St. Mary's Church, Roslyn: Pastor's Page

My dear people of St. Mary’s:

Last week I wrote to you about the ordination of Bishop Robert J. Coyle, formerly a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, now an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. This week I would like to share with you a little bit of his interesting background.

Born in Brooklyn, as a child he and his family lived for a time in Manhasset. His parents, Robert and Kathryn Coyle, currently live in Cold Spring Hills. Bishop Coyle was graduated from St. Edward the Confessor Elementary School, Syosset; St. Mary’s Boys High School, Manhasset; Fordham University, with a B.A. in Economics; and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, with an M.A. in Theology and a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1991, for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, by Bishop John R. McGann.

Bishop Coyle was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1988 and served nearly 25 years on active and reserve duty. During his years in the Naval Reserve, he served from 1991-6 at St. Dominic Church in Oyster Bay, and (just up the road from us) at St. Patrick’s Church in Glen Cove, from 1996-9.

On active duty from 1999 to 2009, he was first assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and deployed to Southeast Asia as Landing Force Chaplain. During a three-year assignment aboard the carrier USS Harry S. Truman, he deployed to the Middle East and served in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Later, assigned to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, he served as Assistant Command Chaplain before assuming duties as Command Chaplain. In 2005, Bishop Coyle was promoted to the rank of Commander, U.S. Navy. From 2007 to 2009, he served on the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and deployed to the Middle East for Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2008, he was named a Monsignor by Pope Benedict.

In August of 2009, Bishop Coyle separated from active duty, returned to reserve status, and began his most recent ministry as Pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Mineola. It was in February that Pope Benedict named him a new Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Let us pray for Bishop Coyle as he begins his new ministry to the men and women of our Armed Forces, and for all who serve us in the military.

—Fr. McCartney

Prayer of the Archdiocese for the Military Services
Almighty God and Father, look with love upon our men and women in uniform and protect them in their time of need. Give them health and stability and allow them to return to their loved ones whole and unshaken. Be with their families and sustain them in these uncertain times.

Grant strength and peace of mind to the Veterans who have given their best for the country they love. Support them in infirmity and in the fragility of old age. Teach us to remember their sacrifices and to express our gratitude.

Manifest your tender care to those in the Military Academies who prepare for future service and to those who serve our Nation far from home. Teach us to remember the sacrifices of those whose efforts contribute to ensuring our way of life. Bless and multiply the priests who minister to the faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Reward their generosity and keep them faithful.

Hear us as we present our prayers to You through Christ our Lord. Amen

My dear people of St. Mary’s:

On April 25, our diocese received a blessing – though one at a distance. One of our own priests, Msgr. Robert J. Coyle, pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Mineola, was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. This took place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The ordaining bishop was the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services; and the co-consecrators were our own Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, and Bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston, South Carolina (and formerly of our diocese).

You may not be aware that the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) is a Catholic diocese without borders. It was created by Blessed John Paul II in 1985 to provide Catholic spiritual services to those serving in the United States Armed Forces, wherever they are in the world. This currently includes more than 220 installations in 29 countries, patients in 153 V.A. Medical Centers, and federal employees serving outside the boundaries of the United States in 134 countries. The AMS is spiritually responsible for more than 1.8 million men, women, and children.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services serves as the sole supplier of Roman Catholic chaplains to the United States government. As the AMS website explains: “A Roman Catholic priest cannot serve within the United States Military as a priest without the express permission of the Archdiocese. As of 2008, 285 Roman Catholic priests were endorsed by the Archdiocese for active-duty military service. These chaplains serve on loan from their diocese of incardination or religious order/society, and are released for a term of military service. Chaplains never become members of the Archdiocese; instead, they always remain subject to their home bishop/religious superiors. The only clergy incardinated into the AMS are its archbishop and auxiliary bishops. Once a priest receives the endorsement of the Archdiocese, he becomes a commissioned military officer of the United States. A priest’s assignments are provided by the Office of the Chief of Chaplains of each respective branch of the U.S. military. The Archdiocese is the sole endorser of chaplains for the Veterans Administration hospitals.”

To meet the needs of the faithful, the Archdiocese has four auxiliary bishops to assist the archbishop in his pastoral duties. All are former active-duty chaplains; Bishop Richard Higgins from the Air Force, Bishop F. Richard Spencer and Bishop Neal Buckon from the Army, and now Bishop Coyle from the Navy. The Archdiocesan offices are headquartered in Washington, D.C., adjacent to The Catholic University of America. The AMS receives no funding from the United States government. Rather, the Archdiocese is solely funded by the generosity of its chaplains, men and women in uniform and private benefactors.

As one of four auxiliaries to Archbishop Broglio, Bishop Coyle, 48, will serve the Archdiocese as Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Half of the United States. He succeeds the late Bishop Joseph Estabrook, who died last year following a lengthy illness.

I will write more about the Archdiocese for the Military Services and Bishop Coyle next week.

—Fr. McCartney