May 31, 2017

Three priests of the diocese have been honored with the Crux in Parasceve, a replica of the cross hanging in Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg, in recognition of their 40th anniversary of the priesthood.

Father Alfred H. Fish, Msgr. Harry K. Snow and Father John R. Yonkovig have offered priestly ministry to the people of the North Country since 1977.

A short biography of the 40-year jubilarians follows:

Father Fish
Father Alfred H. Fish, pastor in St. Regis Falls and Hopkinton since 2004 had previously served as administrator of the two parishes from 2003.

Born March 1, 1951, in Sidney, New York, he grew up in Willsboro. He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall Seminary College and the North American College in Rome Italy before his ordination Sept. 3, 1977, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana.

Father Fish has been assistant pastor in Ticonderoga, Sacred Heart in Massena and in Champlain. He was also administrator in Willsboro, Lyon Mountain and Olmstedville. In 1985, Father Fish was named pastor in Olmstedville until 1989 when he became pastor in West Leyden.

The priest was named pastor in Brushton from 1997 until his assignment in St. Regis Falls and Hopkinton.

Msgr. Snow
Msgr. Harry K. Snow, judicial vicar of the diocese, has served as pastor in Waddington and Madrid since 2012. 
Msgr. Snow served as rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral from 1997 until he was name administrator of St. Andrew’s in Norwood in 2003. He became pastor in Norwood in 2004 while serving as dean of  St. Lawrence Deanery from 2003 to 2006.

A native of Norfolk, Msgr. Snow was born May 6, 1951.  He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg and Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora before his ordination April 30, 1977, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana.

Msgr. Snow’s pastoral assignments include appointments as assistant pastor in Brasher Falls, Lowville and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.  In 1980, he was named secretary of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal and Chaplain of Mater Dei College.  He has also served as chaplain at the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility.

In 1983, Msgr. Snow began graduate studies in canon law receiving a master’s degree from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa.  In 1985, he was named Associate Judicial Vicar and Judicial Vicar in 1988.

Msgr. Snow also served as a pastor in Morristown and Brier Hill.  He was named a Prelate of Honor with the title monsignor in 1995.

Father Yonkovig
Father John R. Yonkovig,has been pastor in Lake Placid and Keene since 2010. Previously, he was pastor of St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh from 1993.

Father Yonkovig served the diocese as Director of the Department of Christian Formation from 1986 until 1993. He has also served as associate director of religious education and as the diocesan youth director.

The priest, a native of Watertown, was born April 10, 1951. He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall and St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore before his ordination on April 30, 1977, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana.

The priest’s other pastoral assignments have been as associate pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, as canonical pastor in Lisbon and as administrator in Morrisonville and Treadwells Mills for four months in 2002 and later as administrator in Ellenburg for three months in 2005 while remaining as pastor in Plattsburgh.