May 18, 2022 After prayerful consideration and consultation with the Priests’ Personnel Board, Bishop Terry R. LaValley announced the following priest assignments on Friday, May 13. • Father James Teti, administrator of St. Henry’s in Long Lake and St. Therese in Newcomb, is appointed pastor of St. Alphonsus in Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Tupper Lake, St. Henry’s in Long Lake, and St. Therese in Newcomb effective June 29. • Father Tojo Chacko, of the Heralds of Good News (HGN), parochial vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh, is appointed pastor of St. Bernard’s and St. Edmund’s Parish in Ellenburg effective June 29. • Father Stephen Rocker, administrator of St. Bernard’s and St. Edmund’s Parish in Ellenburg, retires to take a teaching post at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in Warner, New Hampshire, effective June 29. • Father Garry Giroux, pastor of the Parish of the Visitation and St. Raymond in Norfolk, St. Andrew’s Church in Norwood and St. Patrick’s Church in Brasher Fall, is appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Waddington with St. John the Baptist Church in Madrid effective June 29. • Father Shane Lynch, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Evans Mills and St. Paul’s Church in Black River, is appointed pastor of the Parish of the Visitation and St. Raymond in Norfolk, St. Andrew’s Church in Norwood, and St. Patrick’s Church in Brasher Fall effective June 29. • Father Frank Natale, a Missionary of the Sacred Heart (MSC) and pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Watertown, is also appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Evans Mills and St. Paul’s Church in Black River effective June 29. • Father Joseph Kanimea, MSC, is appointed parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Watertown, St. Mary’s Church in Evans Mills and St. Paul’s Church in Black River effective June 29. • Msgr. Robert Aucoin, pastor of St. Mary’s Church Waddington with St. John the Baptist Church in Madrid, concludes his time as pastor effective June 29. Msgr. Aucoin remains Episcopal Vicar for Education and the New Evangelization and Director of Deacon Formation. • Father Thomas Kornmeyer, VF, pastor of St. Mary’s of the Fort in Fort Covington, the Catholic Community of Burke and Chateaugay in Chateaugay and the Catholic Community of Constable, Westville, and Trout River, is appointed pastor of St. Bartholomew’s Church in Old Forge with St. Anthony of Padua Parish of Inlet and Raquette Lake effective August 31. • Father Medenel Angrand, parochial vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh, is appointed sacramental minister of St. Mary’s of the Fort in Fort Covington, the Catholic Community of Burke and Chateaugay in Chateaugay and the Catholic Community of Constable, Westville, and Trout River effective August 31. • Msgr. John Murphy, pastor of St. Bartholomew’s Church in Old Forge with St. Anthony of Padua Parish of Inlet and Raquette Lake, retires effective August 31. • Father Pedro Edgardo “Jay” de la Rosa, parochial vicar at The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexanders and St. Joseph in Morrisonville, St. Augustine’s Church in Peru and St. James in Cadyville, is appointed pastor of Holy Angels Church in Altona and St. Ann’s Church in Mooers Forks effective June 29. • Deacon Leagon Carlin to be ordained to the Priesthood on May 21st is appointed Parochial Vicar at The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexanders and St. Joseph in Morrisonville, St. Augustine’s Church in Peru and St. James in Cadyville effective June 29. Father Douglas A. Decker A native of Hammond, Father Decker studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall and Christ the King Seminary. His twin brother, Father Robert Decker, is also a priest of the diocese. Father Decker was ordained a priest May 6, 1978, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana. He served as assistant pastor at St. Patrick¹s in Watertown, St. Alexander¹s in Morrisonville, Notre Dame in Ogdensburg, St. Peter¹s in Lowville, and St. John¹s in Plattsburgh and Holy Family in Watertown before he entered the Air Force in 1986. Father James V. Teti A graduate of Yale University, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University, Father Teti, 51, was ordained May 24, 1997. Most recently, he served as pastor of Church of the Annunciation in Paramus, New Jersey, and director of Selection and Formation in the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of Newark.
Father Tojo Chacko, HGN Father Chacko, 37, made his first profession with the Heralds of the Good News on Aug. 6, 2005, his final profession on July 6, 2008, and was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 2, 2009.
Father Stephen T. Rocker Prior to his current assignment, Father Rocker served as pastor of St. Mary’s in Potsdam and St. Patrick’s in Colton, St. Joseph’s in Bombay, St. Mary’s of the Fort in Fort Covington and St. Patrick’s in Hogansburg, and St. James in Gouverneur and Sacred Heart in Edwards; as administrator at St. Peter’s in Hammond and St. Patrick’s in Rossie; as part-time chaplain at the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility; as a missionary in the diocesan Peruvian Apostolate; and as an assistant pastor at Holy Family in Watertown and St. Mary’s in Clayton.
Father Garry B. Giroux A native of Massena, Father Giroux, 72, received a bachelor’s degree from Wadhams Hall Seminary-College and a Master of Divinity degree from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York, before his ordination May 1, 1976, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana. Father Giroux later earned a master’s degree in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame and a JCL degree in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America. In September 2007, he completed the certificate program in Catholic Social Teaching at the Catholic University of America. In addition to serving as pastor in Norwood, Norfolk and Brasher Falls, Father Giroux has served at Notre Dame in Malone, St. Alphonsus in Tupper Lake, St. Lawrence in Louisville and at the Catholic Community of Constable, Westville and Trout River. From 1987-90, Father Giroux served as the director of Diocesan Relations for The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Father Giroux has also served the diocese as secretary to the bishop and associate chancellor as well as executive secretary of the diocesan Department of Worship. Father Shane M. Lynch A Watertown native and graduate of Immaculate Heart Central, Father Lynch, 50, graduated from Wadhams Hall and St. John’s Seminary School of Theology in Boston. He also completed a spirituality year program sponsored by St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was ordained by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito May 12, 2001. Father Frank Natale, MSC Prior to serving in Watertown, Father Natale, 42, served as parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Originally from Ohio, Father Natale was ordained in 2013.
Father Joseph Kanimea, MSC Father Kanimea, 53, was ordained in Fiji in 2001.
Msgr. Robert H. Aucoin A Massachusetts native, Msgr. Aucoin, 78, studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Apostolic School in Watertown with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. He completed his novitiate with the religious order in Canada and attended Laval University in Canada and Gregorian University in Rome. Msgr. Aucoin was ordained March 14, 1970, in Rome as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. In 1973, he was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. He later earned a master’s degree in Education from Ottawa University and has completed doctorate course work in theology at St. Paul University, Ottawa. He also holds a New York State Permanent Certificate in School Administration and in School District Administration, as well as one in guidance and teaching. Father Thomas E. Kornmeyer, VF Prior to that assignment, he served as pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Evans Mills with missions at St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia and St. Theresa of Avila in Theresa, as pastor at St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, St. John of the Wilderness in Lake Clear and St. Paul’s in Bloomingdale, as administrator at St. Henry’s in Long Lake and St. Therese in Newcomb, and as parochial vicar at St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, Sacred Heart in Massena and Notre Dame in Malone. Born in Constableville and raised in Boonville, Father Kornmeyer, 64, graduated from Wadhams Hall in 1980, entered the U.S. Army and served for four years before returning to seminary studies at St. John’s Seminary in Boston. He was ordained May 26, 1990, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana. Father Medenel Angrand Prior to his assignment in Plattsburgh, Father Angrand, 49, served as parochial vicar at St. André Bessette Parish in Malone. Father Angrand was ordained Aug. 24, 2003, in the Diocese of Fort-Liberté, Haiti. In addition to serving as a pastor of two parishes, he has served as director of Caritas, director of Holy Childhood, a member of the College of Consultors and as an assistant pastor in his previous diocese. Father Angrand received his bachelor’s degree in sacred theology in 2002 and a master’s degree in moral theology in 2019. He also has associate degrees in intercultural studies and philosophy. Msgr. John R. Murphy Prior to that assignment, Msgr. Murphy, 74, was pastor of Parish of the Visitation in Norfolk, St. Raymond in Raymondville and St. Andrew’s in Norfolk, pastor of St. Raphael’s in Heuvelton and Saints Philip and James Church in Lisbon, administrator at St. Mary’s in Canton, pastor of St. Mary’s in Potsdam, pastor of St. John the Baptist in Madrid, pastor at Our Lady of Grace in Morristown, and as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s in Canton and St. John’s in Plattsburgh. In addition to serving in parish roles, Msgr. Murphy served as diocesan vice-chancellor, chancellor, moderator of the Curia and Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Services. He also served as head of the Religion Department at St. John’s Central School. A native of Saranac Lake, Msgr. Murphy, 74, studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall and the Gregorian University in Rome before his ordination July 2, 1973, in Rome by Bishop James Hickey. Father Pedro Edgardo N. de la Rosa Ordained in the Archdiocese of Caceres in the Philippines, Father de la Rosa, 44, Father de la Rosa received his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in 1999 and completed his graduate coursework in Theology at Holy Rosary Major Seminary in 2003. He was ordained June 10, 2004, in the Archdiocese of Caceres. Father de la Rosa’s first assignment was as parochial vicar for St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral in Naga City. In 2006, he was appointed as a professor and formator at Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary. He was next assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish as a parish priest (2011). In 2014, he was ap pointed to the Presbyteral Council of Caceres. He also served as an assistant spiritual director at Divine Mercy Apostolate before taking on his last assignment before coming to the Diocese of Ogdensburg, parish priest at Divine Mercy Parish in Paolbo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur. He assumed that role in June 2018. Deacon Leagon Carlin |
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Father Decker,71, has served as pastor of St. Alphonsus-Holy Name of Jesus Parish since 2010. Prior to that time, he served as pastor at St. Cecilia’s in Adams from 1997-2010 and as a chaplain in the United States Air Force from 1988-96.
Father Teti arrived in the Diocese of Ogdensburg in May and was serving as administrator of St. Henry’s in Long Lake and St. Therese in Newcomb. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark.
A priest of the Heralds of the Good News Mother Theresa Province, India, Father Chacko has served as parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh since 2020. Prior to that assignment, he was parochial vicar at St. Peter’s Parish in Massena.
Currently administrator of St. Bernard’s and St. Edmund’s Parish in Ellenburg, Father Rocker will retire to accept a teaching position at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in Warner, New Hampshire, effective June 29.
Father Giroux is Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Ogdensburg and has served as pastor of Visitation and St. Raymond in Norfolk, St. Andrew’s Church in Norwood and St. Patrick’s Church in Brasher Falls since 2019. 
Currently pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Black River and St. Mary’s Church in Evans Mills, Father Lynch has served as pastor of St. James Church in Gouverneur, Sacred Heart Church in Edwards and St. Hubert’s in Star Lake, St. Bartholomew’s in Old Forge, St. Anthony of Padua of Inlet and Raquette Lake, and St. Ann’s in Wells and St. James Major in Lake Pleasant; as parochial vicar at St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, Notre Dame in Malone, Malone Catholic Parishes and Holy Family in Watertown; and as temporary administrator of St. Stephen’s in Croghan.
Father Frank Natale, A Missionary of the Sacred Heart (MSC), has served as pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Watertown since the summer of 2020. 
New to the Diocese of Ogdensburg, Father Kanimea, a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, is originally from Fiji and has been serving in the United States since 2014, most recently as pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Bangor, Pennsylvania.
Prior to his time in Waddington and Madrid, Msgr. Aucoin, Episcopal Vicar for Education and the New Evangelization and director of Deacon Formation, served as pastor of St. Mary’s in Evans Mills, St. Paul’s in Black River and St. Rita’s in Deferiet, along with missions of St. Theresa of Avila in Theresa and St. Joseph’s Church in Philadelphia; as pastor of St. Anthony’s and St. Patrick’s in Watertown; as principal of Seton Catholic School; as pastor of St. Mary’s in Potsdam and St. Patrick’s in Colton; as rector-president of Wadhams Hall Seminary College; as rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral and chancellor of the diocese; as president of Mater Dei College; as principal of Immaculate Heart Central; as chaplain at Fort Drum; as administrator of St. Agnes in Lake Placid; as director of Family Life.
Father Kornmeyer has served as pastor and sacramental minister at St. Mary’s of the Fort in Fort Covington, the Catholic Community of Burke and Chateaugay, and the Catholic Community of Constable, Westville and Trout River since 2015.
Father Angrand, currently parochial vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh, was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg in November 2020. 
Msgr. Murphy has served as pastor at St. Batholomew’s in Old Forge and St. Anthony of Padua in Inlet and Raquette Lake since January 2019.
Father de la Rosa, known as “Father Jay,” has been serving as parochial vicar in the Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander’s and St. Joseph in Morrisonville, St. Augustine’s in Peru and St. James in Cadyville since February 2020. He was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg in November 2021.
Deacon Leagon Carlin will be ordained to the Priesthood on May 21. A Plattsburgh native, Deacon Carlin, 25, recently graduated from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. See the full story 