About St. James Minor · Carthage, New York
St. James Minor is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Carthage, Jefferson County, New York, part of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. It is the older of the two parishes in the 'Catholics of Carthage and Copenhagen' cluster, sharing clergy and a website with nearby St. Mary's in Copenhagen. Worship is offered Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and the parish has been continuously served by priests for over two centuries since its first church was incorporated in 1821.
- Established
- 1821
- Patron
- St. James the Apostle (the Less)
- Rector
- Rev. Jaya Kumar Francis, MSC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
St. James Minor has anchored Catholic life in Carthage since 1821 and remains the spiritual home for a parish family that worships Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Members are invited into a full life of faith — daily-administration ministries like lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers and the Family Choir, formation through OCIA/OCIC, devotions like First Friday Daytime and Nocturnal Adoration, the Good Samaritan food pantry, Knights of Columbus, Ave Maria Circle, youth group, and outreach to the sick and homebound — all coordinated under a single pastoral team serving both Carthage and Copenhagen.
Mass times at St. James Minor
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM (St. James)
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM (St. James, per diocesan listing)
Adoration times
- First Friday – Daytime Adoration
- First Friday – Nocturnal Adoration Society (overnight)
Parish History & Foundation
St. James Minor traces its origin to 1818, when the land on which it stands was deeded by James D. LeRay de Chaumont, the prominent French-born landholder who developed much of Jefferson County, NY. The first church was dedicated and the parish incorporated in 1821 under founding pastor Rev. John Farnan. The present church was dedicated in 1866.
- 1818 — Land deeded by James D. LeRay de Chaumont
- 1821 — First church dedicated; parish incorporated under Rev. John Farnan
- 1866 — Present church dedicated
- 1872 — Parish falls under the newly erected Diocese of Ogdensburg
- 1874–1997 — Pastored by the Order of St. Augustine (O.S.A.), Province of St. Thomas of Villanova
- 1997 — Returns to diocesan clergy pastoral care
Diocesan & Jurisdictional History
Across more than two centuries, St. James has belonged to three different Catholic dioceses as the Church in northern New York reorganized.
- Diocese of New York, 1821–1847
- Diocese of Albany, 1847–1872
- Diocese of Ogdensburg, 1872 – Present
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor assisted by two deacons and a religious sister, supported by a small rectory staff.
- Pastor: Rev. Jaya Kumar Francis, MSC
- Pastoral Associate: Deacon Richard J. Staab
- Pastoral Associate: Deacon Garry H. Stevens
- Pastoral Associate: Sr. Suanne Johnson, SSJ
- Parish Secretary: Joanne Norrgard
- Bookkeeper: Cindy Arquiett
- PR/HR: Meg Getman
- Organist: Michael Perfetto
Pastorates — A 200-Year Succession
The parish website publishes a detailed list of pastors stretching back to 1821, including the long sequence of Augustinian priests who served from 1874 to 1997.
- 1821–1873: Non-resident pastors under the Diocese of New York, then Albany, then Ogdensburg
- 1874–1997: Augustinian (O.S.A.) pastors
- 1997–present: Diocesan clergy
- Current: Rev. Jaya Kumar Francis, MSC (May 2026 – Present)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass in a full range of liturgical roles, coordinated by Joseph Margrey as schedule coordinator.
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Family Choir (Michael Perfetto Jr.)
- Liturgy Committee
Faith Formation & Christian Initiation
The parish prepares adults and children for full initiation into the Catholic Church, alongside ongoing adult enrichment.
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
- Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC)
- Adult Enrichment (Deacon & Mrs. Richard Staab)
- Pre-Cana (marriage preparation)
Parish Life & Family
Pastoral care extends from the womb to the grave, with family, youth, and bereavement ministries named on the parish directory.
- Family Life Committee (Deacon & Mrs. Richard Staab)
- St. James Youth Group (Tom and Michelle Wojcikowski)
- Bereavement Team (Teri Streeter, Joan Todd)
- Cenacle of Mary, Queen of Peace
Outreach & Charity
St. James operates a parish food pantry and participates in local ecumenical and nursing-home ministries.
- Good Samaritan Society of St. James — Food Pantry (Yvonne Ablan)
- Village Ecumenical Ministries (VEM) / Stone Soup
- Ministry Outreach to the Sick & Homebound
- Skilled Nursing Unit Rosary Team
- Prayer Line (Joanne Sligar)
Catholic Interest Groups & Councils
The parish hosts traditional Catholic fraternal and devotional organizations, along with the standing advisory councils.
- Knights of Columbus
- Ave Maria Circle (Catholic Woman's Club)
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Spiritual Life Committee
- Buildings & Grounds
Practical Information
- Address: 327 West Street, Carthage, NY 13619
- Phone: (315) 493-3224
- Fax: (315) 493-0632 (per directory listing) / (315) 493-3280 (per parish staff page)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: catholicsofcarthagecopenhagen.org
- Cluster site: shared with St. Mary, Copenhagen
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Farnan1821–1825
Non-resident founding pastor; first church dedicated and parish incorporated during his tenure.
- Rev. R. James Solomon1825–c.1830
Non-resident pastor under the Diocese of New York.
- Rev. Francis M. McFarlandc.1830s
Non-resident pastor.
- Rev. Michael Power
Non-resident pastor before 1874.
- Rev. Michael E. Clarke
Non-resident pastor before 1874.
- Rev. Patrick O'Reilly
Non-resident pastor before 1874.
- Rev. Michael Barry
Non-resident pastor before 1874.
- Rev. William M. Connelly
Non-resident pastor before 1874.
- Rev. Michael J. Griffithuntil 1873
Last of the non-resident pastors before the Augustinians arrived.
- Rev. John J. Fedigan, O.S.A.1874–1877
First Augustinian pastor; began 123 years of O.S.A. pastoral care.
- Rev. Francis J. McShane, O.S.A.1877–1882
- Rev. Bernard Augustine Daily, O.S.A.1882–1885
- Rev. Patrick Joseph O'Connell, O.S.A.1885–1889
- Rev. Patrick A. Carr, O.S.A.1890–1895
- Rev. Francis J. McShane, O.S.A.1895–1898
Returned for a second term.
- Rev. Francis A. McCranor, O.S.A.1898–1902
- Rev. Henry T. Regan, O.S.A.1902–1920
- Rev. Daniel A. Herron, O.S.A.1910–1917
- Rev. George L. ___, O.S.A.1917–1926
- Rev. Alfred H. Valiquette, O.S.A.1926–1932
- Rev. Daniel A. Herron, O.S.A.1932–1938
Returned for a second term.
- Rev. Alfred H. Valiquette, O.S.A.1938–1941
Returned for a second term.
- Rev. John B. Martin, O.S.A.1941–1944
- Rev. George C. Egan, O.S.A.1944–1947
- Rev. Thomas A. Kiley, O.S.A.1947–1950
- Rev. William J. Deacy, O.S.A.1950–1956
- Rev. Patrick K. Kenney, O.S.A.1956–1959
- Rev. Raymond J. Stengel, O.S.A.1959–1965
- Rev. Wilbert R. Kirk, O.S.A.1965–1969
- Rev. John F. Wilson, O.S.A.1969–1973
- Rev. John P. Hennessy, O.S.A.1973–1975
- Rev. Alfred J. Ellis, O.S.A.1975–1979
- Rev. James T. Spenard, O.S.A.1979–June 1997
Longest Augustinian pastorate; bridged the end of O.S.A. pastoral care.
- Rev. Kevin J. O'BrienJune 1997 – June 1999
First diocesan pastor after the Augustinians.
- Rev. Scott M. FobareJune 1999 – June 2002
- Rev. George F. MarounJune 2002 – June 2015
- Rev. Donald A. RobinsonJune 2015 – June 2021
- Rev. Todd E. ThibaultJune 2021 – May 2026
- Rev. Jaya Kumar Francis, MSCMay 2026 – Present
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC); current pastor.