About St. James · Gouverneur, New York
St. James is a Roman Catholic parish in Gouverneur, New York, part of the Diocese of Ogdensburg and the hub of the Catholic Communities of the Oswegatchie — a multi-site family that also includes Sacred Heart Church in Edwards and St. Hubert's Church in Star Lake. Worship is centered on a landmark 1924 Gouverneur-marble church at 164 East Main Street, and the parish sustains a parish elementary school (Preschool–Grade 6), a religious education program for youth and families, and daily and weekend Masses celebrated in English. The parish is currently served by Rev. James W. (Jay) Seymour and two permanent deacons, Philip F. Giardino and Henry J. Leader, and is home to roughly 550 families.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle (James the Greater)
- Rector
- Rev. James W. (Jay) Seymour
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. James is a 150-year-old faith community that combines a beautiful historic marble church, an active parish elementary school (Preschool–Grade 6), and a multi-site Catholic family spanning Gouverneur, Edwards, and Star Lake. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass, Saturday confessions, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, religious education for children and youth, and a long-running music ministry led by a director who has served since 1970 — making it a fitting home for both longtime Catholics and military families from nearby Fort Drum seeking a complete parish life.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at St. James, Gouverneur (or by appointment)
- Sunday: 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM at St. Hubert's, Star Lake (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Thursday, 1 hour after the 12:00 PM Mass (per parish calendar); Friday exposition as announced
History of St. James Parish
St. James Parish was founded in 1874 when Father James O'Driscoll arranged to buy a former Methodist church on Park Street in Gouverneur and have Bishop Edgar P. Wadhams dedicate it as a Mass station of the Canton parish. The first church was destroyed by fire on January 13, 1875, and the parishioners rebuilt on North Gordon Street within six months. By 1905 the parish had grown to roughly 140 families, and under Father Michael Gallivan (pastor 1896–1936) two decades of fundraising by the Promoters of the Sacred Heart produced the present Gouverneur-marble church, dedicated in 1925. The parish marked 150 years as a faith community and 100 years since the cornerstone of the current building with a joint celebration in September 2024.
- 1873 — Father O'Driscoll purchases former Methodist building on Park Street for $1,400
- September 22, 1874 — Bishop Wadhams dedicates the first Gouverneur Catholic church
- January 13, 1875 — First church destroyed by fire
- November 25, 1875 — Second church dedicated on North Gordon Street
- 1896–1936 — Pastorate of Father Michael Gallivan; two decades of fundraising begin
- 1924 — Cornerstone laid; construction in Gouverneur marble begins in May
- November 26, 1925 — First Mass in the present church (Thanksgiving Day)
- 2023 — Sacred Heart, Edwards merges into St. James Parish
- September 28, 2024 — Joint 150th/100th anniversary Mass with Bishop LaValley
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor with the assistance of two permanent deacons who are listed in the Diocese of Ogdensburg directory and on the parish website. The parish school and Religious Education office are staffed by long-serving lay professionals, including a music director with more than five decades of service.
- Rev. James W. (Jay) Seymour — Pastor (assigned March 2021)
- Deacon Philip F. Giardino
- Deacon Henry J. Leader
- Mrs. Leader — Director of Religious Education, Youth, and Family Ministries; teaches Religion at St. James School
- Beth Johnson — Director of Music for parish and school (since 1970)
- Laurel Bartholomew — Principal, St. James School
- Morgan Austin — Director of St. James School Food Services (2025)
Catholic Communities of the Oswegatchie
St. James is the anchor parish of a three-church collaborative known as the Catholic Communities of the Oswegatchie. In addition to St. James in Gouverneur, the pastor and deacons serve Sacred Heart Church in Edwards (which was merged into St. James Parish in 2023) and St. Hubert's Church in Star Lake. Mass and confession schedules are coordinated across all three sites, with the parish office at 164 East Main Street serving as the central hub.
- St. James Church — 164 East Main Street, Gouverneur (parish hub)
- Sacred Heart Church — Edwards (merged into St. James Parish in 2023)
- St. Hubert's Church — Star Lake
- Shared pastor: Rev. James W. (Jay) Seymour
- Shared deacons: Philip F. Giardino, Henry J. Leader
St. James Parish School
St. James Parish School is a Catholic elementary school serving preschool through sixth grade, located at 20 South Gordon Street in Gouverneur — adjacent to the church. The school's mission is to provide a quality Catholic education that develops students spiritually, academically, socially, and physically in partnership with families. The school welcomes military families from nearby Fort Drum (about 30 miles away) and maintains a Vocations Day tradition in which students hear testimony from religious sisters, priests, and married couples about different vocations in the Church.
- Preschool through Grade 6
- Located at 20 South Gordon Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642
- Principal: Laurel Bartholomew
- Religion teacher: Mrs. Leader (also parish Director of Religious Education)
- Music: Beth Johnson (parish/school Music Director since 1970)
- Family Support, Art, PE, and Food Services staff
- Vocations Day tradition featuring priests, sisters, and married couples as guest speakers
Religious Education & Family Ministries
Religious Education at St. James is directed by Mrs. Leader, who also serves as Director of Religious Education, Youth, and Family Ministries and teaches Religion at St. James School. A Certified Catechist, she previously worked as an Associate in the Family Life Office for the Diocese of Ogdensburg. The parish publishes a Religious Education Registration Form on its website and prepares children for the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
- Director of Religious Education, Youth, and Family Ministries
- Sacramental preparation: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
- Religious Education Registration Form (online)
- Baptism Registration Form (online)
- Family Life catechesis and youth ministry in collaboration with the parish school
Sacraments
St. James prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Practical information and registration forms for Baptism and Religious Education are available on the parish website; other sacraments are arranged by contacting the parish office.
- Baptism — Baptism Registration Form online
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist — through Religious Education
- Confirmation — youth and adult preparation available
- Marriage — contact parish office to arrange preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- RCIA — coordinated through the Diocese of Ogdensburg Faith Formation office for those becoming Catholic
Music & Liturgy
Music is a cornerstone of worship at St. James, with a single Director of Music serving both the parish and the parish school since 1970. Beth Johnson is a member of the Three M's Music Honor Society and shares her gifts across the church, school, and wider community, also offering private lessons and contributing to local musical life.
- Beth Johnson — Director of Music for parish and school since 1970
- Three M's Music Honor Society member
- Music program supports weekend Masses, holy days, and school liturgies
Architecture & Building
St. James Church is one of the visual landmarks of Gouverneur, an imposing structure built of locally quarried Gouverneur marble and sited at the corner of East Main Street and South Gordon Street. Its cornerstone bears the date 1924; construction began that May and was completed in time for the first Mass on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1925. Father Michael Gallivan was known to inspect each stone as it went into the walls and to reject any he felt was imperfect — a detail the parish still takes pride in.
- Style/material: Gouverneur marble, monumental early-20th-century church
- Cornerstone dated 1924
- First Mass in the building: November 26, 1925 (Thanksgiving Day)
- Estimated construction cost: about $100,000 (of which more than half was raised beforehand)
- First baptism in the new church: Alice Anne Davis
- First funeral in the new church: John Shinnock
- First marriage in the new church: Donald Toomey and Agatha Brunet
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office at 164 East Main Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642. The parish can be reached by phone at (315) 287-0114 and by email at [email protected]. A Church Registration Form is available on the parish website for those wishing to formally join the parish.
- Address: 164 East Main Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642
- Phone: (315) 287-0114
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.oswegatchiecatholics.org
- Church Registration Form available online
- Within 30 miles of Fort Drum — welcomes military families
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James O'Driscoll1873–1875
Pastor of Canton; purchased the Park Street building in 1873 and arranged the first Gouverneur Catholic worship space, dedicated 1874; first church destroyed by fire January 1875.
- Father Michael Gallivan1896–1936
Long-tenured pastor under whose leadership the current Gouverneur-marble church was planned, funded, and built (cornerstone 1924, first Mass 1925).
- Father J. Everett Denesha1972–
Became pastor of St. James in 1972; previously an accomplished musician who had directed the choir at St. Mary's Cathedral and chaired the Diocesan Music Committee.
- Father Vicente Jazminesadministrator c. early 1990s; pastor 1996–1999
Philippine-born priest incardinated into the Diocese of Ogdensburg in 1992; served as administrator at St. James and also chaplain at Gouverneur Correctional Facility before becoming pastor in 1996.
- Father Shane M. Lynchuntil March 2021
Pastor of Gouverneur, Edwards, and Star Lake; reassigned to Black River and Evans Mills in March 2021.
- Father James W. (Jay) SeymourMarch 2021–present
Previously pastor in Lowville, Glenfield, and Houseville; reassigned March 3, 2021 to the Gouverneur/Edwards/Star Lake cluster.