About St. Alexander · Morrisonville, New York
St. Alexander's Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1 Church Street in Morrisonville, New York, in Clinton County, and is part of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. It is the principal church of the Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph, a multi-site parish family that also includes St. Augustine's Church in Peru and St. James Church in Cadyville, with St. Joseph's Community Outreach Center (in Plattsburgh West) and the Oratory of St. Patrick / Mother Cabrini Shrine serving as additional parish assets. The parish serves the faithful of the greater Plattsburgh area with daily and Sunday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and youth, and a broad network of parish groups and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Alexander (Pope and Martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher J. Looby
- Diocese
- Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. Alexander's offers a full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday and weekday Confession, and monthly Eucharistic Adoration — alongside a robust Religious Education program for kindergarten through adult, an active youth ministry with Sunday-night youth group meetings, and a deep bench of lay organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Threads of Faith, and a Bereavement Committee. The parish family also extends its reach through the St. Joseph's Community Outreach Center and the historic Mother Cabrini Shrine, making it a true hub of Catholic life in the greater Plattsburgh/Morrisonville area.
Mass times at St. Alexander
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 10:00–11:00 AM at St. Alexander's
Adoration times
- Third Tuesday of the month at St. Alexander's, immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass until 3:00 PM
About the Parish
United in the Love of Jesus — that is the motto of the Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph, a multi-site parish family in Clinton County, New York, led by Father Christopher J. Looby and Parochial Vicar Father Carter G. Pierce. The community is made up of three active churches: St. Alexander's in Morrisonville, St. Augustine's in Peru, and St. James in Cadyville, where the faithful worship at Mass, adore Christ in Eucharistic Adoration, encounter His mercy in Confession, and grow through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony. Two additional parish sites — the St. Joseph's Community Outreach Center (formerly St. Joseph's Church) and the Oratory of St. Patrick / Mother Cabrini Shrine — serve in outreach and devotional capacities. As members of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, the parishes are shepherded by Bishop Terry R. LaValley.
- Principal church: St. Alexander's, 1 Church Street, Morrisonville, NY 12962
- Motto: 'United in the Love of Jesus'
- Diocese: Ogdensburg (Bishop Terry R. LaValley)
- Linked worship sites: St. Augustine (Peru) and St. James (Cadyville)
Mission and Vision
The parish family's stated mission is to 'Glorify God' — to bring Jesus to others, and others to Jesus, specifically through the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church. As Latin Rite (Roman) Catholics, they teach and believe all that is contained within the teachings of Christ's Church.
History
St. Alexander's has served the Catholic faithful of Morrisonville for many decades. The Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph Parish was formally organized in 1946, according to IRS records. Today it functions as the hub of a four-site parish family that includes St. Augustine's in Peru, St. James in Cadyville, and the St. Joseph's Community Outreach Center, alongside the historic Mother Cabrini Shrine and St. Patrick's Oratory.
- Parish organization founded in 1946
- Part of the Diocese of Ogdensburg
- Pastor since July 8, 2024: Rev. Christopher J. Looby
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Christopher J. Looby and Parochial Vicar Rev. Carter G. Pierce, with deacons Gordon J. Burdo, Jr. and Michael J. Howley assisting. Sister Deepali Bankar, SCC serves as Director of Religious Education, and Gabe Gratto is the Youth Minister. Parish operations are supported by Secretary Rebecca Watkins and Business/Office Manager Jackie Black. Music Ministry is provided by Wanda J. Haby, Ben Reavis, and Lita Kelly Paczak.
- Pastor: Rev. Christopher J. Looby
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Carter G. Pierce
- Deacons: Gordon J. Burdo, Jr.; Michael J. Howley
- Director of Religious Education: Sister Deepali Bankar, SCC
- Youth Minister: Gabriel (Gabe) Gratto
- Secretary: Rebecca Watkins
- Business/Office Manager: Jackie Black
- Music Ministry: Wanda J. Haby, Ben Reavis, Lita Kelly Paczak
- Custodians: Steve Delorme, Leo Bedard
- Parish Trustees: Jack Baroody, Cheryl Dodds
Pastor History
The parish's pastorate transitions in recent years are documented in diocesan priest-assignment announcements published by the North Country Catholic.
- Rev. Scott R. Seymour — pastor until July 8, 2024; reassigned to St. André Bessette Parish in Malone.
- Rev. Christopher J. Looby — became pastor effective July 8, 2024 (previously pastor of St. Mary's, Ticonderoga, and Our Lady of Lourdes, Schroon Lake).
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Religious Education program — under the direction of Sister Deepali Bankar, SCC — exists for evangelization and catechesis from kindergarten through senior adults. Children grow in their understanding of prayer, the Sacraments, values, and the Bible. A separate Youth Ministry, led by Gabe Gratto, hosts middle- and high-school activities, with Youth Group meetings on Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM, focused on building friendships, serving the community, and growing in faith.
- Director of Religious Education: Sister Deepali Bankar, SCC
- Youth Minister: Gabe Gratto
- Youth Group meets Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM
Parish Groups and Lay Organizations
The parish family hosts a wide range of lay ministries and organizations. Four Knights of Columbus councils serve the parishes (Msgr. Claude A. Gobet #6067, Fr. Real Labrie #7248, #7273, and the Fourth Degree Assembly #706). Two courts of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas meet in the cluster: Court St. Monica #2598 in Peru and Court St. Kateri and St. Andrea #2663 in Morrisonville, meeting the first Tuesday of each month (except February and November) at 6:00 PM in Jubilee Hall.
- Knights of Columbus — Councils #6067, #7248, #7273, and Fourth Degree Assembly #706
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Court St. Monica #2598 (Peru) and Court St. Kateri and St. Andrea #2663 (Morrisonville)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Patricia Bordeau (518-643-8959); 4th Wednesday, 1–3 PM, Jubilee Hall
- Threads of Faith — Barb Stadnicki (518-643-0101); 1st Thursday, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM, Jubilee Hall
- Bereavement Committee (11–14 volunteers; hosts All Souls Day memorial)
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Liturgical ministries (altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion) and a Music Ministry staffed by Wanda J. Haby, Ben Reavis, and Lita Kelly Paczak support the celebration of Mass across the parish family.
Our Missions — Outreach and Historic Shrines
Though no longer used for regular worship, St. Joseph's Church now operates as the parish's St. Joseph's Community Outreach Center. The Oratory of St. Patrick and the Mother Cabrini Shrine — beloved by countless parishioners and pilgrims throughout their history — remain places of prayer and contemplation, and serve as the site of the annual Parish Picnic.
- St. Joseph's Community Outreach Center (Plattsburgh West)
- Oratory of St. Patrick and Mother Cabrini Shrine — site of annual Parish Picnic
Architecture of St. Alexander's
The St. Alexander's Catholic Church building is one of the prominent works of North Country architect Jeremiah Oosterbaan (1929–2011), a former student of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe at the Illinois Institute of Technology who opened his practice in Plattsburgh in 1956. Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) includes St. Alexander's among his most distinctive late-twentieth-century designs alongside the Temple Beth Israel, Newman Center, Plattsburgh Public Library, Press-Republican, and Clinton County Government Center.
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish celebrates the seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation (Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Holy Matrimony. Funeral liturgies are assisted by the Bereavement Committee, which helps families plan the funeral Mass and provides a luncheon afterward; the committee also hosts an annual memorial Mass on All Souls Day.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony — by arrangement
- Confession — Saturdays 10:00–11:00 AM
- Funeral planning and luncheon — Bereavement Committee
Contact and Visiting
Parish Office: 1 Church Street, Morrisonville, NY 12962. Mailing address: P.O. Box 159, Morrisonville, NY 12962. Office phone: 518-561-5039. Email: [email protected]. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. The parish website is https://www.rccalexanderaugustinejames.org/. St. Alexander's Cemetery is located at 105 Rand Hill Road.
- Office: 1 Church Street, Morrisonville, NY 12962
- Phone: 518-561-5039
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.rccalexanderaugustinejames.org/
- Cemetery: 105 Rand Hill Road
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Scott R. Seymouruntil July 8, 2024
Previously pastor of the Roman Catholic Community of St. Alexander and St. Joseph, St. Augustine's in Peru, and St. James in Cadyville; reassigned as pastor of St. André Bessette Parish in Malone effective July 8, 2024.
- Rev. Christopher J. Loobyeffective July 8, 2024
Came from St. Mary's Church in Ticonderoga and Our Lady of Lourdes in Schroon Lake; became pastor of the combined Morrisonville/Peru/Cadyville cluster effective July 8, 2024.