From deacon to priest - It was Tom Higman's first mass as Father Higman.

It's a name that he says sounds a little odd right now. 

"That's going to take some getting used to, but it's a wonderful thing. It's something that I've been in the seminary working on for the last eight years of my life," Higman said.

Above being a special day for Father Higman, the newly ordained priest's first mass at St. James in Carthage is a bit good news for the Diocese of Ogdensburg. 

The Diocese currently has only seven young men studying to become priests. The number has decreased dramatically over the years. 

And Father Douglas Lucia the Director of Seminarians for Diocese says he understands why less young men are going into the priesthood. 

"I've been a priest 23 years, and I find it a wonderful life. And yet, I understand, for the young men looking at priesthood, they're saying, 'There's a lot of work to do,'" he said.

Deacon Scott Belina, who was also participating in the mass, was ordained as a transitional deacon on Friday, which means he will study for another year until he becomes a priest.

"A small voice inside of me said, 'What if God wants me to be a priest?' And from then on I really couldn't put it out of my mind," Belina said.

With the newly ordained Father Higman and Deacon Belina now in the Diocese, Lucia says he's hopeful for the future.

"We don't measure success in numbers, but in quality. But we certainly do want a quantity that will help us serve the people of the north country," he said.

Father Higman celebrated his first mass in his home parish at St. James. It will also be one of his last at that church - for now anyway.

Higman will soon be heading to Malone to begin his work as a priest there.