2026 Saint John Neumann Honoree - Bishop Joseph Coffey

The Saint John Neumann Award, bestowed at our Annual Dinner every October, recognizes individuals whose unwavering commitment to service has profoundly strengthened our community. We are proud to present this award to The Most Reverend Joseph L. Coffey, whose dedication to the spiritual care of our nation’s heroes embodies the essence of this award. A retired Navy chaplain with 28 years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan, Bishop Coffey now serves as Episcopal Vicar for Veterans Affairs for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. His “ministry of presence” reaches all 150 VA Medical Centers across the nation, where he provides pastoral care and sacramental comfort to veterans and their families, reminding them of how honorable it is to serve. Bishop Coffey’s compassionate leadership and tireless advocacy are an inspiration to the Catholic Charities’ Veterans program staff, who work tirelessly to uplift the dignity of those who have served our country.