Follow Me NCC: Celebrating 80 years of sharing faith By Bishop Terry R. LaValley

February 25, 2026

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
“The universal kinship of God, the priceless worth of a man’s soul, and his eternal destiny – these are truths, vital to the peace and happiness of men and nations. Their importance is paramount in the affairs of government, education, commerce, industry, social welfare and family life. It is the high duty of our Catholic Press to keep these fundamental truths alive and active in the public mind.”

Those words were written by one of my predecessors, Bishop Bryan J. McEntegart, for the first edition of the North Country Catholic, published on March 3, 1946 – 80 years ago. While we’d likely use different words to express that sentiment today, the words still ring true all these years later.

Celebrating 80 Years of Sharing Faith, our North Country Catholic continues to share stories that help us view current issues through a truly and faithfully Catholic lens.

Our newspaper shares the stories of the people in our diocese living their faith and sharing their relationships with the Lord with their North-Country neighbors, helping connect us to one another.

As the North CountryCatholic begins its annual subscription campaign, I would echo Bishop McEntegart’s wordsfrom that first edition: “A careful reading of our diocesan paper week after week in every Catholic home will not only strengthen the faith of our people but also help them to meet the problems and trials of everyday life. In addition, the faithful throughout this wide-spread Diocese will be bound together more closely in their common love for God and for neighbor.”

If you are a currentsubscriber, thank you for renewing your subscription in this week’s campaign. Why not consider obtaining a subscription as a gift for a family member? I invite those who do not currently subscribe to consider how important it is today to be an informed Catholic Christian and to get to know the other members of the Body of Christ throughout this expansive diocese as we celebrate 80 Years of Sharing Faith.

Thank you for your prayerful support.

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