Terry R. LaValley
Encyclopedia
Terry Ronald LaValley is an American
prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the current Bishop of Ogdensburg
.
, New York
, to Ronald and Doris LaValley. He was raised in St. Ann's Parish and received his early education at Mooers Central School in Mooers
. He graduated from Northeastern Clinton Central High School in Champlain
. He attended the State University of New York at Albany
for two years before enlisting in the United States Navy
, where he served from 1977 to 1983. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from SUNY Albany in 1980.
In 1983, LaValley entered Wadhams Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg
, earning a Certificate of Studies in Philosophy the following year. He continued his studies at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora
. He received a Master of Divinity
degree from Christ the King in 1988. He was ordained
to the diaconate
on February 27, 1988.
by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana
on September 24, 1988. His first assignment was as a curate
at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Massena
. During his time at Sacred Heart, he also served as associate secretary of the diocesan marriage tribunal and a member of the Presbyteral Council
. He completed his graduate studies at St. Paul's University
in Ottawa
, Canada
, where he earned a Doctor of Canon Law
degree in 1994.
Upon his return to New York, LaValley was named administrator of both St. Peter's Church in Hammond and St. Patrick's Mission Church in Rossie
, as well as adjutant judicial vicar
. In 1996, he became episcopal vicar
for diocesan services and chancellor
of the Diocese of Ogdensburg
. In addition to these responsibilities, he was appointed pastor
of St. Raphael Church in Heuvelton
(1998) and administrator of St. James Church in Gouverneur
(1999). He returned to St. Raphael's in 2000, and became rector
of St. Mary's Cathedral in 2003.
In 2004, he was relieved of his duties as episcopal vicar and chancellor, and named the Bishop Robert J. Cunningham
's delegate to implement and oversee compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. On May 28, 2009, he was elected the apostolic administrator
of the diocese by the College of Consultors, following installation of Bishop Cunningham as Bishop of Syracuse
.
by Pope Benedict XVI
. His episcopal
consecration
and installation took place at St. Mary's Cathedral on April 30, 2010.
As bishop, LaValley serves as the spiritual leader of the 150,000 Catholics in New York's North Country
. He is the first native of the Ogdensburg Diocese to serve as its bishop since the appointment of Joseph H. Conroy
in 1921.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the current Bishop of Ogdensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
.
Early life and education
The second of six children, LaValley was born in PlattsburghPlattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, to Ronald and Doris LaValley. He was raised in St. Ann's Parish and received his early education at Mooers Central School in Mooers
Mooers (town), New York
Mooers is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 3,592 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Benjamin Mooers, an early settler....
. He graduated from Northeastern Clinton Central High School in Champlain
Champlain (town), New York
Champlain is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 5,754 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Lake Champlain....
. He attended the State University of New York at Albany
University at Albany, SUNY
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
for two years before enlisting in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, where he served from 1977 to 1983. He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from SUNY Albany in 1980.
In 1983, LaValley entered Wadhams Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
, earning a Certificate of Studies in Philosophy the following year. He continued his studies at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora
East Aurora, New York
East Aurora is a village in Erie County, New York, United States, southeast of Buffalo. The Village of East Aurora lies in the eastern half of the Town of Aurora.The population was 6,673 at the 2000 census...
. He received a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree from Christ the King in 1988. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on February 27, 1988.
Priesthood
LaValley was ordained to the priesthoodPriesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana
Stanislaus Joseph Brzana
Stanislaus Joseph Brzana was the tenth Roman Catholic Bishop of Ogdensburg .Stanislaus Brzana was born in Buffalo, New York, to Frank and Catherine Brzana. He studied at at St. Bonaventure University, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1941...
on September 24, 1988. His first assignment was as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Massena
Massena (town), New York
Massena is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The town is on the northern border of the county and is nicknamed "The Gateway to the Fourth Coast". The population was 13,121 at the 2000 census. The town of Massena contains a village also called Massena...
. During his time at Sacred Heart, he also served as associate secretary of the diocesan marriage tribunal and a member of the Presbyteral Council
Presbyteral Council
The Presbyteral Council or Council of Priests is a group of priests chosen to assist the local ordinary in an advisory capacity in the governance of the diocese. Canon 495 of the Code of Canon Law lays down that every diocese must have such a council...
. He completed his graduate studies at St. Paul's University
Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he earned a Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
degree in 1994.
Upon his return to New York, LaValley was named administrator of both St. Peter's Church in Hammond and St. Patrick's Mission Church in Rossie
Rossie, New York
Rossie is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 787 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the sister of an early land owner....
, as well as adjutant judicial vicar
Judicial vicar
In the Roman Catholic Church, a judicial vicar is an officer of the diocese who has ordinary power to judge cases in the diocesan ecclesiastical court...
. In 1996, he became episcopal vicar
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
for diocesan services and chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Diocese of Ogdensburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
. In addition to these responsibilities, he was appointed pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Raphael Church in Heuvelton
Heuvelton, New York
Heuvelton is a small rural, incorporated, village located in St. Lawrence County in the state of New York in the United States of America. It is situated about six miles southeast of the city of Ogdensburg, in the Town of Oswegatchie. It is the only village in the town. Route 812 bisects the...
(1998) and administrator of St. James Church in Gouverneur
Gouverneur (village), New York
Gouverneur is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 4,263 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Gouverneur Morris, one of the authors of the Constitution of the United States, as well as a prominent landowner and part-time resident of the area.The...
(1999). He returned to St. Raphael's in 2000, and became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Mary's Cathedral in 2003.
In 2004, he was relieved of his duties as episcopal vicar and chancellor, and named the Bishop Robert J. Cunningham
Robert Joseph Cunningham
-External links:***...
's delegate to implement and oversee compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. On May 28, 2009, he was elected the apostolic administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the diocese by the College of Consultors, following installation of Bishop Cunningham as Bishop of Syracuse
Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
The Diocese of Syracuse is a Catholic diocese headquartered in Syracuse, New York, USA. The current bishop is the Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham. The Diocese of Syracuse includes 350,000 Catholics residing in seven counties of Central and South Central New York State...
.
Episcopal career
On February 23, 2010, LaValley was appointed the fourteenth Bishop of OgdensburgRoman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. His episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
and installation took place at St. Mary's Cathedral on April 30, 2010.
As bishop, LaValley serves as the spiritual leader of the 150,000 Catholics in New York's North Country
North Country, New York
The North Country is a region of the U.S. state of New York that encompasses the state's extreme northern frontier, bordering Lake Ontario on the west, the Saint Lawrence River and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec on the north and northwest, and Lake Champlain and Vermont on the east...
. He is the first native of the Ogdensburg Diocese to serve as its bishop since the appointment of Joseph H. Conroy
Joseph Henry Conroy
Joseph Henry Conroy was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Ogdensburg from 1921 until his death in 1939.-Biography:...
in 1921.