Pope Francis on February 20, 2018, appointed Bishop Robert J. Coyle, 53, to serve as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. Until today, Bishop Coyle was serving as Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Half of the United States, Archdiocese for the Military Services.
The appointment was made public in Washington, February 20, 2018, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Coyle will begin serving the People of God of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on April 2, 2018.
“I am extremely grateful to the Holy Father, Pope Francis for assigning us Bishop Coyle,” said Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop, Rockville Centre. “I am also truly grateful for Bishop Coyle’s pastoral service and for his leadership to the young men and women who defend our great country. Bishop Coyle will assist me and auxiliary bishops Robert Brennan and Andrzej Zglejszewski in the pastoral ministry of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.”
“Today, I humbly accept the appointment to serve the People of God on Long Island as auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre,” said Bishop Coyle. “Years back there was a spirit campaign with the expression, ‘I’m a Long Islander and proud of it!’ I again can say that here as a native son I look forward to assisting Bishop John Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre, in our pursuit of Dramatic Missionary Growth on Long Island.”
Bishop Robert J. Coyle
Back in February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI appointed then Rev. Msgr. Coyle to serve as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of the Military. At that time, Msgr. Coyle was serving as pastor of Corpus Christi parish in Mineola. The son of Robert and Kathyrn Coyle, Bishop Coyle was born in Brooklyn in 1964. He is the product of a life-long Catholic education and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John R. McGann in 1991. He then served as associate pastor of the parish of Saint Dominic, Oyster Bay and then in the parish of Saint Patrick, Glen Cove. Bishop Coyle served 24.5 years on active reserve duty before his retirement from the Naval Reserve on January 1, 2013. Serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy brought Bishop Coyle to the Middle East to serve on an aircraft carrier and to Norfolk, Virginia to care for the spiritual needs of sailors and their families.
During a three year assignment aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Bishop Coyle deployed to the Middle East and served in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He then served as chaplain to the young men and women studying at the Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Point. While assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Pope Benedict named him a chaplain of honor with the title of Monsignor in 2008 in recognition of his outstanding service caring for the spiritual needs of Catholics and others of all faiths in the U.S. Navy.
As auxiliary bishop, Bishop Coyle will join Bishop Robert J. Brennan, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop Andrzej Zglejszewski, Auxiliary Bishop, Western Vicariate in assisting Bishop Barres to serve the sacramental, spiritual and pastoral needs of the 1.4 million Catholics residing in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
JF
