St. James

About St. James Parish

St. James is the historic Catholic parish of Cadyville, NY, formally dedicated to St. James the Less. It is one of three worshipping communities in the Roman Catholic Community of Saints Alexander, Augustine, and James, a tri-parish cluster in the northern Adirondack foothills served by the Diocese of Ogdensburg. The parish gathers each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. for Mass, with the full array of pastoral sacraments, faith formation, and devotions shared across the cluster.

History

Catholic families first arrived in Cadyville in 1825, originally traveling to Plattsburgh for Mass or hosting priests in their homes (recorded as early as 1830). Construction of a church began in 1840 under Father Rooney and was completed by Father Maloney. In 1872 the community was constituted as an independent parish under Father James J. McGowan, who added a stone sacristy and furnished the interior. The 1914 historical directory describes a 270-Catholic parish served successively by Father Ryan and, from 1914, Rev. John J. Kelly, the latter having been ordained at Louvain, Belgium, in 1906 by Bishop Gabriels.

• 1825 — first Catholic families settle Cadyville
• 1830 — Mass begins to be celebrated in private homes by visiting priests
• 1840 — Father Rooney begins building the church; Father Maloney completes it
• 1872 — Cadyville becomes an independent parish under Father James J. McGowan; stone sacristy added
• 1881 — Dannemora is set off as a separate parish; Patent (Burnt Hill) remains a mission
• 1914 — Father Ryan retires due to ill health; succeeded by Rev. John J. Kelly
• Today — clustered with St. Alexander's (Morrisonville) and St. Augustine's (Peru)

Pastoral Leadership & Staff

St. James is pastored as part of the RCC AAJ cluster. The pastor is Rev. Christopher J. Looby, assisted by parochial vicar Rev. Carter G. Pierce and deacons Gordon J. Burdo, Jr., and Michael J. Howley. Parish operations are supported by Business/Office Manager Jackie Black and Secretary Rebecca Watkins.

• Pastor: Rev. Christopher J. Looby
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Carter G. Pierce
• Deacon Gordon J. Burdo, Jr.
• Deacon Michael J. Howley
• Business/Office Manager: Jackie Black
• Secretary: Rebecca Watkins

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

Religious education across the cluster aims at evangelization and catechesis for every age, from kindergarten through senior adults. Sister Deepali Bankar, SCC, directs the program and prepares parishioners in prayer, the sacraments, Scripture, and Catholic values. A youth group for middle and high school students meets on Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m., led by youth minister Gabe Gratto, with seasonal service projects and faith-building activities.

• Director of Religious Education: Sister Deepali Bankar, SCC
• Youth Minister: Gabe Gratto
• Youth Group meets Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM
• Catechesis from kindergarten through senior adults

Camp Guggenheim & Summer Youth Programs

The parish supports Camp Guggenheim, the Diocese of Ogdensburg's Catholic summer camp. Its Teen Vision program gives teens a two-week, hands-on outdoor ministry experience that develops leadership, communication, and mentorship skills — a résumé-builder for college applications and a springboard for careers in ministry, education, and youth work.

• Diocesan Catholic summer camp
• Teen Vision (TV) two-week leadership track for teens
• Sessions tailored to campers ages 12–15
• Senior session (ages 16–18) offering deeper faith formation

Devotions and Prayer Life

Beyond the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, the cluster sustains a robust Eucharistic devotion. Friday Adoration at St. Augustine's runs from the conclusion of the 8:00 a.m. Mass through Vespers at 6:30 p.m., and a monthly Holy Hour is hosted at St. Alexander's on the third Tuesday, beginning after the 9:00 a.m. Mass.

• Friday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Augustine's
• Friday Vespers at 6:30 PM at St. Augustine's
• Monthly Holy Hour on the third Tuesday at St. Alexander's

Contact, Office Hours & Location

Parish business is handled through the shared Morrisonville office at 1 Church Street, Morrisonville, NY 12962 (mailing address PO Box 159). The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. St. James itself is located at 26 Church Street, Cadyville, NY 12918, with the same cluster phone number.

• Parish Office: 1 Church Street, Morrisonville, NY 12962
• Mailing Address: PO Box 159, Morrisonville, NY 12962
• Phone: 518-561-5039
• Fax: 518-561-5040
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

Tri-Parish Cluster: Saints Alexander, Augustine, and James

St. James shares its pastoral team, faith formation, and sacramental schedule with St. Alexander's in Morrisonville (the cluster's main worship and office hub) and St. Augustine's in Peru. This tri-parish arrangement lets parishioners access confession and weekday Masses close to home while supporting the larger Catholic community of Clinton County under the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

• St. Alexander's, Morrisonville (cluster office and principal Mass site)
• St. Augustine's, Peru (Adoration and Saturday vigil)
• St. James, Cadyville (Sunday 9:00 AM Mass)
• Part of the Diocese of Ogdensburg