Background
The second of six children, LaValley was born in Plattsburgh, New York, to Ronald and Doris LaValley.
The second of six children, LaValley was born in Plattsburgh, New York, to Ronald and Doris LaValley.
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 Master of Divinity degree from Christ the King in 1988.
He is the current Bishop of Ogdensburg. Early life and education
He was raised in Saint Ann"s Parish and received his early education at Mooers Central School in Mooers. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from State University of New York 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 was ordained to the diaconate on February 27, 1988.
Ordination and ministry
LaValley was ordained to the priesthood 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.
He completed his graduate studies at Saint 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 Saint Peter"s Church in Hammond and Saint 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 Saint Raphael Church in Heuvelton (1998) and administrator of Saint James Church in Gouverneur (1999).
He returned to Saint Raphael"s in 2000, and became rector of Saint 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.
Bishop of Ogdensburg, New York
On February 23, 2010, LaValley was appointed the fourteenth Bishop of Ogdensburg by Pope Benedict XVI. His episcopal consecration and installation took place at Saint 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.
During his time at Sacred Heart, he also served as associate secretary of the diocesan marriage tribunal and a member of the Presbyteral Council.