Aug. 13, 2014

By Colleen Miner
Staff writer

Plattsburgh  - Champlain Valley Right to Life, an affiliate of New York State Right to Life, is under new leadership. On May 15, the CVRTL Committee  selected Deacon Jack Lukasiewicz to be their new chairman and J. William  Gleason as the first vice chairman for the organization.

Deacon Lukasiewicz, originally from Detroit, is a graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh and served in the Air Force for 21 years. He served in  aircraft maintenance fields and is a Vietnam veteran. 

Ordained to the permanent diaconate in September 2009 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, he is assigned to Our Lady of Victory Church.

Deacon Lukasiewicz said, “Deacons are ordained to service in the church and within the community at large. The pro-life cause will receive special attention from me and the members of CVRTL who vigorously stand for the sacredness of the human person.

“We promote the dignity of life by supporting institutions to protect life and pray for an end to abortion and euthanasia,” he said. “We long for the day when life is valued as a gift from God, respected and cherished by everyone.”

Mr. Gleason was born in Dannemora and a former parishioner of Church of the Assumption in Redford. He is a graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh  and a Korean Veteran.

Mr Gleason was employed by IBM for 38 years and held management positions throughout the US. Upon retirement from IBM, Mr. Gleason became a real estate broker for Dodgen Realty in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Three years ago, Gleason and his wife, Helen returned to the North Country and are members of St. John the Baptist Church in Plattsburgh.

“I became a member of the Regnum Christi Movement in 199,” Gleason said. “I am a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Council #255 and have been a Knight for over 56 years. I am very pro-life and will assist in areas of education, legislation, and political action in a non-violent way.

“I want to make certain that our activities are within the legal boundaries of the First Amendment,” he said. “I will promote prayer to Saint Gianna Molla, patron of mothers and the unborn, as she is our patron saint for Champlain Valley Right To Life members.”       

For 43 years, members of CVRTL have spoken up on behalf of those who cannot. CVRTL supports pro-life programs like Gabriel Project, Birthright, 40 Days for Life, and the new pregnancy center in Plattsburgh.

Goals of the organization include making information available to expectant women who are unsure of where to find help in handling pregnancy.

The new Champlain Valley Right to Life website -www.champlainvalleyrighttolife.org - continues to be updated with information, including information on how to join.