May 20, 2026 After prayerful consideration and consultation with the Committee on Assignments, Bishop Terry R. LaValley made the appointments below. Please pray for the Priests and parishes involved. • Father Todd E. Thibault, pastor of St. James Minor Church in Carthage and St. Mary’s Church in Copenhagen, is appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Chazy and St. Joseph’s Church in West Chazy. • Father Jaya Kumar Francis, MSC, parochial vicar of The Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Watertown, is appointed pastor of St. James Minor Church in Carthage and St. Mary’s Church in Copenhagen. EFFECTIVE JULY 1: • Father Joseph A. Morgan, VG, rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg, is appointed administrator of St. Stephen’s Church in Croghan and St. Francis Solanus Church in Harrisville. Father Morgan remains Vicar General. • Father John M. “Mickey” Demo, pastor of the Blessed Sacrament Parish - the Churches of the Holy Family, St. Anthony’s Church, St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown, is appointed Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. • Father Christopher C. Carrara, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Morristown, is appointed pastor of the Blessed Sacrament Parish - the Churches of the Holy Family, St. Anthony’s Church, St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown. Father Carrara remains Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and diocesan director of Seminarians. • Father Leagon J. Carlin returns from Canonical Studies and is appointed pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Morristown and diocesan Vice Chancellor/Tribunal. • Father John R. Yonkovig, VF, retires as pastor of St. Agnes Church in Lake Placid and St. Brendan’s Church in Keene. • Father Jose K. John, HGN, parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh, is appointed pastor of St. Agnes Church in Lake Placid and St. Brendan’s Church in Keene. • Father Philip T. Allen retires as pastor of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s Parish in Indian Lake and St. Joseph’s Church in Olmstedville. • Father Jude Nnadibuagha, parochial vicar of the Blessed Sacrament Parish - the Churches of the Holy Family, St. Anthony’s Church, St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown, is appointed pastor of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s Parish in Indian Lake and St. Joseph’s Church in Olmstedville. • Father Matthew S. Conger, parochial vicar at St. André Bessette Roman Catholic Parish in Malone, is appointed parochial vicar of St. Peter’s Parish in Massena and diocesan director of Vocations. • Deacon Michelet Boncoeur upon his Ordination to the priesthood is appointed parochial vicar of the Blessed Sacrament Parish - the Churches of the Holy Family, St. Anthony’s Church, St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown. • Deacon Tyler M. Fitzgerald upon his Ordination to the Priesthood is appointed parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh. • Deacon Dennis M. Ombongi upon his Ordination to the Priesthood is appointed parochial vicar of St. André Bessette Roman Catholic Parish in Malone. • Rev. Lukas H. Gruber, parochial vicar for St. Peter’s Parish, Massena, is appointed parochial vicar for St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. • Father Michael H. Marzan, parochial vicar of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg is appointed parochial vicar of St. Peter’s Parish in Massena. • Father John Kennedy Ojuok, parochial vicar for the Catholic Community of St. Peter and St. Mary and St. Hedwig in Lowville, is appointed parochial vicar of The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph in Morrisonville, St. James Church in Cadyville and St. Augustine’s Church in Peru. • Father Carter G. Pierce, parochial vicar of The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph in Morrisonville and St. James Church in Cadyville and St. Augustine’s Church in Peru, is appointed parochial vicar of the Blessed Sacrament Parish - the Churches of the Holy Family, St. Anthony’s Church, St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown and Diocesan Associate Director of Vocations.
Below are brief biographies of the individuals who are changing assignments. FR. FERNANDO V. SOLOMON JR. A native of Quezon City, Philippines, Father Solomon earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in divinity in his home country before coming to the United States. Father Solomon was introduced to the Diocese of Ogdensburg in 2012 when he toured the diocese while serving with a religious order. For a period of time, he worked in ministry to the deaf and in prison ministry. He was later incardinated into the diocese as a deacon and served a pastoral year with the Catholic Communities of Crown Point, Moriah and Port Henry. Father Solomon is fluent in several languages including English, Tagalog, Spanish and American Sign Language. He was ordained by Bishop Terry R. LaValley on May 29, 2021, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.
FR. TODD E. THIBAULT A Native of Colchester, Vt., he received an associate’s degree in hotel/motel management at Champlain College in Burlington prior to attending seminary, and he worked in that industry for 15 years. He later accepted a role in the Development Office for the Diocese of Burlington. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum and St. John’s Seminary. He served as parochial vicar at St. Mary’s in Canton before becoming administrator of St. Edmund’s Church in Ellenburg Center and St. Bernard’s Church in Lyon Mountain in November of 2017. He became pastor of that community in June 2019. Effective June 16, 2021, he was appointed pastor of St. James Minor Church in Carthage and St. Mary’s Church in Copenhagen.
FR. JAYA KUMAR FRANCIS, MSC Prior to his arrival in the North Country, he was serving in St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in Easton, Pennsylvania. He made his first profession with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in his native India in 1993 and was ordained on Aug. 22, 1998. He completed his seminary formation in India and the Philippines. He has served with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in both parish roles and in the order’s formation program.
FR. DONALD J. MANFRED Originally from Somerville, Massachusetts, Father Manfred, 85, grew up in the Potsdam area. He began studies for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall Seminary and also studied at Christ the King Seminary in Olean, New York, and received a master’s degree in history from Potsdam State University. He was ordained May 20, 1967, at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Thomas Donnellan. Father Manfred served as an assistant pastor at St. Patrick’s in Watertown and at St. Alphonsus in Tupper Lake. He also served as administrator in Dannemora and pastor in North Lawrence, Tupper Lake and Massena, a role he held until his assignment in Carthage and Harrisville. In addition to his parish assignments, in 1971, Father Manfred was appointed executive director of the Bishop’s Fund. A year later he was named assistant chancellor with additional responsibilities for the lay retirement fund.
FR. JOSEPH A. MORGAN, VG He has served as vicar general since 2013. Born in Oneida, New York, Father Morgan moved with his family to Watertown as a child. He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall Seminary College and the North American College at Rome. He was ordained Sept. 5, 1981, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana. Early in his priesthood, he served as an associate pastor in Peru and in Ogdensburg; and as an administrator in Ticonderoga, Brownville and at Sacred Heart in Massena; and as pastor in West Chazy, Champlain, Lake Placid and Keene, and Heuvelton. In addition to his parish roles and his role as vicar general, he previously served the diocese as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, pastoral Personnel and Seminarians from 2001 to 2005. Prior to that, from 1997, his title was Director of Priest and pastoral Personnel; two years later was given added responsibilities as Director of Seminarians. In addition, Father Morgan served the diocese as vocation director from 1985 to 1987, served on the Priests’ Personnel Committee and has been a Defender of the Bond for the Marriage Tribunal since shortly after his ordination.
FR. JOHN M. (MICKEY) DEMO He has served as pastor in Watertown since 2019, when he was first assigned to Church of the Holy Family. Father Demo’s role later expanded to include St. Anthony’s and St. Patrick’s, a grouping now known as Blessed Sacrament Parish. Before arriving in Watertown, Father Demo was pastor in Dannemora and Redford for six years, and he served as administrator in Willsboro and Essex prior to that assignment. He has previously served as pastor in St. Ann’s in St. Regis Falls and Church of the Holy Cross in Hopkinton; as parochial vicar at St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, Holy Family in Watertown, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg and Notre Dame in Ogdensburg, and St. James Minor in Carthage; and administrator in St. Patrick’s in Chateaugay and St. George’s Church in Burke. A native of Brasher Falls, he graduated from LeMoyne College in Syracuse before beginning studies for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass. Father Demo was ordained Sept. 24, 1988, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana. After ordination, Father Demo continued his education, studying philosophy at Catholic University from 1995 to 1996.
FR. CHRISTOPHER C. CARRARA Born in Brooklyn, he attended Paul Smith’s College and Dowling College before studying for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall Seminary and Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York. He was ordained May 14, 1994, at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Paul S. Loverde. After ordination, he served as parochial vicar at Holy Family in Watertown, St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, St. Henry’s in Natural Bridge, St. Rita’s in Deferiet and St. James Minor in Carthage; and pastor at Holy Name in Tupper Lake, St. John the Evangelist in Lafargeville and St. Mary’s in Clayton. He then served as administrator at St. Mary’s in Glenfield, St. Peter’s in Lowville and St. Hedwig’s in Houseville for a year before becoming pastor of those parishes in 2010. He remained in that role until 2017. Father Carrara also serves as chaplain for a number of law enforcement and emergency services.
FR. LEAGON J. CARLIN He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Terry R. LaValley on May 21, 2022, in St. Mary’s Cathedral. After his ordination, he was appointed parochial vicar at St. James Church in Cadyville, The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph in Morrisonville and St. Augustine’s Church in Peru. He served there until June 28, 2023, when he became parochial vicar at St. Peter’s Church in Massena. In June of 2024, he became in-residence at St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish with an assignment to Canon Law School at University of St. Paul in Ottawa.
FR, JOHN R. YONKOVIG, VF 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. A native of Watertown, Father Yonkovig 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.
FR. JOSE K. JOHN, HGN He first served in the Diocese of Ogdensburg as parochial vicar of St. André Bessette Parish in Malone. In July 2025, he became parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh. Father John made his first profession with the Heralds of Good News in May of 2001. He made his final profession in July of 2004, and he was ordained in May of the following year.
FR. PHILIP T. ALLEN Father Allen, 92, first retired in 2009 before coming out of retirement to serve as temporary administrator in Evans Mills, Theresa and Philadelphia and in Port Leyden and Lyons Falls. In 2019, he moved to Indian Lake, where he served as pastor at St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s Parish and St. Joseph’s Church in Olmstedville. At the time of his retirement, Father Allen was pastor in AuSable Forks and Black Brook, a role he first assumed in 2001, and as pastor in Wilmington, a position that was added to his duties in 2006. Father Allen was born in Peru. He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall and St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester before his ordination May 16, 1959, by Bishop James J. Navagh. He served as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg, St. Bernard’s in Saranac Lake, St. Peter’s in Lowville and Holy Name in AuSable Forks. He was a temporary administrator in Chazy for three months in 1971 before being named pastor in Heuvelton. He was also pastor in Lake Placid, rector at St. Mary’s Cathedral, and pastor at Redford. Father Allen has served the diocese in the Marriage Tribunal as secretary, official and presiding judge. He also directed the Pre-Cana program in the Ogdensburg area.
FR. JUDE NNADIBUAGHA Born in Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria, Father Jude Nnadibuagha was ordained by Bishop Terry R. LaValley on Aug. 1, 2020, at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Father Nnadibuagha obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Samonda Ibadan, Nigeria in 2013 and a bachelor’s degree in theology from Collegio Pontificio Teologico Internazionale in Rome, Italy in 2017. His first assignment after ordination was as parochial vicar of the Catholic Community of St. Peter and St. Mary and St. Hedwig in Lowville, Glenfield and Houseville. In 2021, he began serving as parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish.
FR. MATTHEW S. CONGER He was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg, by Bishop Terry R. LaValley on May 29, 2021. His first assignment was as parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Watertown. In 2022, he became diocesan associate director of Vocations. In 2025, he became parochial vicar of St. André Bessette Parish in Malone. Father Conger also serves as chaplain for local law enforcement and emergency services.
DEACON MICHELET BONCOUER He was then introduced to the Diocese of Ogdensburg by Father Medenel Angrand, pastor in Crown Point, Schroon Lake and Ticonderoga. Drawn to the rural character of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, which resonated with his own upbringing, he applied and was accepted on October 26, 2023. He was ordained to the diaconate on May 24, 2025, by Bishop Terry R. LaValley in Sacred Heart Church, Massena. Since arriving in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, he has served in pastoral assignments in the Catholic Community of Moriah, Crown Point & Port Henry and Blessed Sacrament Parish, Watertown. He is preparing to be ordained by Bishop Terry R. LaValley on May 30 in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg.
DEACON TYLER M. FITZGERALD He was ordained to the diaconate on May 24, 2025, by Bishop Terry R. LaValley in Sacred Heart Church, Massena. Earlier this month, he graduated from St. Vincent Seminary in LaTrobe, Pennsylvania. In November, 2025, he was awarded the seminary’s Diakonia Award, recognizing his outstanding academic performance, leadership, and contribution to student morale and community service. He has recently served in pastoral assignments in the Catholic Community of Alexandria and St. Mary’s in Clayton, and in the Catholic Community of Cape Vincent, Rosiere, and Chaumont. He is preparing to be ordained by Bishop Terry R. LaValley on May 30 in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg.
DEACON DENNIS M. OMBONGI After high school, he joined a religious order of brothers. He worked in several countries as a brother for nine years, but the desire to be a priest kept coming back. So, he left his order and joined a Dominican order here in the United States. He studied philosophy for two years at Holy Apostles Seminary in Connecticut. When his order was disbanded, Dennis asked to come study for the Diocese of Ogdensburg. He has been based out of St. Peter’s Parish in Massena, and he has served in recent pastoral assignments at Camp Guggenheim and in Catholic Community of Cape Vincent, Rosiere, and Chaumont.
FR. LUKAS H. GRUBER He later graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He was ordained by Bishop LaValley on May 27, 2023. Father Gruber started his priesthood as parochial vicar at The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph in Morrisonville, St. Augustine’s Church in Peru and St. James Church in Cadyville was his first assignment. He was assigned to St. Peter’s Parish in Massena in June of 2024.
FR. MICHAEL H. MARZAN He was ordained to the priesthood March 13, 2000. His first assignment was at Saint Bernard Abbot Parish, a community of three churches, in Camarines Sur as parochial vicar. He later started a parish, St. Francis Xavier, in Halawig-Gogon, Goa, Camarines Sur, overseeing the building of the church structure and the parish community. Prior to arriving in the United States in June of 2022, he was assigned as a parish priest of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish, Santiago, Irga City, a parish in the Archdiocese of Caceres. In the Diocese of Ogdensburg, he has served as parochial vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh and at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
FR. JOHN KENNEDY OJUOK He was ordained by Bishop LaValley on May 29, 2021, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg. After his ordination, Father Ojuok served as parochial vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh. Though he had to return to Kenya for a year due to immigration issues, he returned a year later to serve in the parish. In June of 2024, he became parochial vicar at the Catholic Community of St. Peter and St. Mary and St. Hedwig in Lowville, Glenfield and Houseville.
FR. CARTER G. PIERCE Father Pierce completed his theology studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. After his ordination, he was named parochial vicar at The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph in Morrisonville, St. Augustine’s Church in Peru and St. James Church in Cadyville. |
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Father Solomon was recently appointed as administrator of Sacred Heart Church in Chazy and St. Joseph’s Church in West Chazy. Prior to that appointment, he served as parochial vicar at St. Peter’s Parish in Massena, a role he also held at St. André Bessette Parish in Malone for a time.
Father Todd E. Thibault was ordained Oct. 8, 2016, by Bishop Terry R. LaValley at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
A Missionary of the Sacred Heart, Father Francis arrived in the Diocese of Ogdensburg in July of 2023. Since that time, he has served as parochial vicar of The Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Watertown.
Father Manfred has served as pastor in Croghan and Harrisville since June 2016.
