Follow Me Update on diocesan reorganization By Bishop Terry R. LaValley

July 30, 2025

Dear Friends,
I hope you are all enjoying the summer. I am writing to update you as we mark the second anniversary of the filing of our petition for reorganization. The Diocese continues to carry on our mission in the ordinary course. Parishes also continue their programs and activities.

As you know, all State cou11 lawsuits against the diocese, parishes, schools and other Catholic entities are stayed as a result of the Diocese’s chapter 11 case. As I previously reported to you, we have been attempting to negotiate settlements with the creditors’ committee and our insurers. The bankruptcy judge has ordered that all contested matters, including the Childs Victims Act (CVA) cases, be resolved through mediation.

Judge Christopher Sontchi continues to serve as mediator. We had hoped to have another round of negotiations with the creditors’ committee yesterday, but Judge Sontchi postponed the meeting until August because of medical issues. We hope to resume negotiations on August 26. It has been a tedious and slow­ moving process to date.

The mediator and our attorneys have negotiated with our insurers, and some progress has been made. We are hoping that we can reach settlements with some of our insurers in the near future. The diocese and our attorneys have done our best to keep the talks about settlement moving. We have disclosed tens of thousands of documents to the insurers and creditors’ committee to facilitate the mediation process. The parishes have been represented at the mediation conferences by Jeffery Dove, Esq. and Father Demo, the head of the parishes’ steering committee. Due to the confidential nature of the mediation process, I cannot give you pai1iculars about the discussions, but I do want to assure you that we are constantly working towards a settlement and hoping for a just outcome for all. I am grateful for the tireless effort Father Kevin O’Brien and Mr. Mark Mashaw our Fiscal Officer, have given to this important matter.

I again ask your prayers as we move toward a just and expeditious resolution of all these matters. We are committed to compensating victims of sexual abuse. We need to keep them uppermost in our thoughts and prayers. We are also committed to continuing our mission as a diocese and meeting the needs of our reople throughout the North Country. Thank you for your prayerful support. Asking God to bless you and your loved ones, I am,

Faithfully yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Terry R. LaValley
Bishop of Ogdensburg