Most Rev. Robert J. Coyle, D.D.
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Bishop Robert J. Coyle is a native Long Islander and is honored to again serve the people of Long Island.
Bishop Robert J. Coyle serves as an Auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. In his duties he assists the Bishop of Rockville Centre serving as the Episcopal Vicar of the Eastern Vicariate, that comprises 34 parishes in the eastern part of Long Island. Bishop Coyle also serves as Pastor of Good Shepherd Church. Bishop Coyle reported to the diocese as an Auxiliary bishop on 2 April 2018 and took up residence as pastor on 27 June 2018.
Bishop Coyle was ordained to the priesthood on 25 May 1991 at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY. He went on to serve as associate pastor at St. Dominic Church in Oyster Bay, NY and St. Patrick Church in Glen Cove, NY.
In 1999 then Father Coyle, a Navy reserve chaplain was recalled to active duty as a Navy Chaplain. He served several tours with the US Navy and US Marine Corps. Stationed in the Far East, Middle East and the Mediterranean where he deployed multiple times in support of units assigned to overseas operations including: Operations: Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and Landing Force CARAT. His shipboard assignments included the USS HARRY S TRUMAN and the USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER, aircraft carriers based out of Norfolk, Virginia. While assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan he was chaplain to the Combat Assault Battalion. Stateside he served in Norfolk, Virginia and the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. While on active duty, Pope Benedict XVI named then Monsignor Coyle, a Chaplain to His Holiness in recognition of his outstanding service to the Navy and Marine Corps as a chaplain.
Returning to Long Island in the fall of 2009, then Msgr. Coyle served as pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Mineola, NY until being appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as an Auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, based in Washington, D.C. on 11 February 2013. Bishop Coyle was ordained a bishop on 25 April 2013 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Bishop Coyle then served as an Auxiliary bishop and Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Half of the United States Military which included 80 military bases and chapel communities. After serving 25 years as a Navy Chaplain on active and reserve duty and an additional 5 years as a military bishop, Bishop Coyle was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as an Auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre on 20 February 2018. Bishop Coyle reported to the diocese on 2 April, 2018.
Bishop Robert J. Coyle now serves in his capacity as Auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre, as Vicar of the Eastern Vicariate and pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Holbrook, New York.
Bishop Robert J. Coyle serves as an Auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. In his duties he assists the Bishop of Rockville Centre serving as the Episcopal Vicar of the Eastern Vicariate, that comprises 34 parishes in the eastern part of Long Island. Bishop Coyle also serves as Pastor of Good Shepherd Church. Bishop Coyle reported to the diocese as an Auxiliary bishop on 2 April 2018 and took up residence as pastor on 27 June 2018.
Bishop Coyle was ordained to the priesthood on 25 May 1991 at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY. He went on to serve as associate pastor at St. Dominic Church in Oyster Bay, NY and St. Patrick Church in Glen Cove, NY.
In 1999 then Father Coyle, a Navy reserve chaplain was recalled to active duty as a Navy Chaplain. He served several tours with the US Navy and US Marine Corps. Stationed in the Far East, Middle East and the Mediterranean where he deployed multiple times in support of units assigned to overseas operations including: Operations: Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and Landing Force CARAT. His shipboard assignments included the USS HARRY S TRUMAN and the USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER, aircraft carriers based out of Norfolk, Virginia. While assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan he was chaplain to the Combat Assault Battalion. Stateside he served in Norfolk, Virginia and the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. While on active duty, Pope Benedict XVI named then Monsignor Coyle, a Chaplain to His Holiness in recognition of his outstanding service to the Navy and Marine Corps as a chaplain.
Returning to Long Island in the fall of 2009, then Msgr. Coyle served as pastor of Corpus Christi Church in Mineola, NY until being appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as an Auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, based in Washington, D.C. on 11 February 2013. Bishop Coyle was ordained a bishop on 25 April 2013 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Bishop Coyle then served as an Auxiliary bishop and Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Half of the United States Military which included 80 military bases and chapel communities. After serving 25 years as a Navy Chaplain on active and reserve duty and an additional 5 years as a military bishop, Bishop Coyle was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as an Auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre on 20 February 2018. Bishop Coyle reported to the diocese on 2 April, 2018.
Bishop Robert J. Coyle now serves in his capacity as Auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre, as Vicar of the Eastern Vicariate and pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Holbrook, New York.
Father Rudy Pesongco |
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Father Rudy Pesongco was ordained a priest in his home parish in San Joaquin, Iloilo, Philippines in 1982. As a young priest, 26 years of age, he performed parish assignments which lead him to study in Rome where he completed a Doctoral Degree in Pastoral Theology.
After returning to the Philippines he taught courses in Catechetics and Pastoral Theology at St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary. While in the Philippines he was eventually assigned as the Director of ACCCE ( Archdiocesan Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education) and also responsible for the formation of volunteer Catechists of the Archdiocese of Jaro.
He arrived at the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 2002 and was assigned as an associate pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in East Northport by Bishop William Murphy.
In 2005, he was welcomed at the Church of St. Anne, Garden City as an associate pastor where he served under pastors Msgr. John Gilmartin and Msgr. Thomas Harold.
During his 13 year assignment at St. Anne’s, he has served his parish and community with distinction. He was involved with various ministry duties in the parish, the parish school and most of all dedicating his time to his local parishioners. He participated in faith formation for parish and public school students. He was also Chaplain of the Stewart Manor Fire Department, Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus Nassau Chapter and the Catholic Daughters of America. He was also instrumental in coordinating the Men’s and Women’s Bible Study Group.
In 2013, he became a US Citizen and was officially Incardinated into the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
In a recent conversation with Father Rudy, he has expressed his excitement and desire to serve the needs of the Good Shepherd and along with Bishop Robert Coyle, he thanks God for this wonderful opportunity.
After returning to the Philippines he taught courses in Catechetics and Pastoral Theology at St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary. While in the Philippines he was eventually assigned as the Director of ACCCE ( Archdiocesan Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education) and also responsible for the formation of volunteer Catechists of the Archdiocese of Jaro.
He arrived at the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 2002 and was assigned as an associate pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in East Northport by Bishop William Murphy.
In 2005, he was welcomed at the Church of St. Anne, Garden City as an associate pastor where he served under pastors Msgr. John Gilmartin and Msgr. Thomas Harold.
During his 13 year assignment at St. Anne’s, he has served his parish and community with distinction. He was involved with various ministry duties in the parish, the parish school and most of all dedicating his time to his local parishioners. He participated in faith formation for parish and public school students. He was also Chaplain of the Stewart Manor Fire Department, Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus Nassau Chapter and the Catholic Daughters of America. He was also instrumental in coordinating the Men’s and Women’s Bible Study Group.
In 2013, he became a US Citizen and was officially Incardinated into the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
In a recent conversation with Father Rudy, he has expressed his excitement and desire to serve the needs of the Good Shepherd and along with Bishop Robert Coyle, he thanks God for this wonderful opportunity.
Father Jerry DiSpigno |
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Our Lady of Guadalupe has become my favorite image of the Blessed Mother because here she is pregnant with Jesus and joyfully brings Him to the world. We too have the same gift and opportunity when we receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus comes into us and we bring Him to our world. I had the great privilege of being ordained on her feast day December 12, 1981.
My parents Joseph and Mildred have been daily communicants for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Rocky Point my three brothers and sister often argued with my parents because we did not want to go to church because it was boring and the priests didn't speak English, and the ones that did, didn't speak to us. My dad would remind us that we went to Church for Jesus, not for the priests nor anyone else for that matter.
It was the example of the Sisters of the Atonement who reminded us school children that there was a joyful God who loved us. After graduating Saint Anthony High School I pursued a degree in special education at Loyola College (now University) in Maryland. It was there through the encouragement of my friends, teachers and Jesuits that I discerned my call to the priesthood and entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington in 1977.
On April 1, 1981 a young deacon landed on the steps of Mary Immaculate Church in Bellport and served as a deacon and later a priest for three years. Following Bellport I have served in Saint Hugh of Lincoln in Huntington Station, Saint Mary in East Islip, Saint Christopher in Baldwin and Maria Regina in Seaford. In 2003 I was called to return to Bellport to succeed the pastor I had lived with upon his death. Twelve years later I was asked to be the pastor of Saint Gerard in Port Jefferson Station where I served since last March.
Retreat ministry to the young and old, to people in the mainstream and on the edge have been the crux of my ministry. I presently have been serving as a chaplain at the Yaphank prisons and often give retreats with the marginalized and mentally ill. I've given many directed retreats, at home retreats, and been a spiritual director and run a retreat house for priests. As this ministry began to take form in my life I went to study at the Jesuit School of theology in Berkeley, Saint Bonaventure (where currently one of my brothers Fr. Francis, is the campus minister and VP) and received a masters of spirituality and spiritual direction from Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1995.
Like Our Lady of Guadalupe all of us are called to share Jesus with the world. Each of us receive Him in the Eucharist which unites us to God and one another and are reminded of Gods great love for us .
These past six months I have been living a monastic schedule as a hermit in a hermitage built for priests over 20 years ago. The call to pray for priests has been heavy on my heart for many years and I asked Bishop Barres for some time away from the parish to live as a hermit in prayer. As you know the need to pray for priests and our Church is indeed important. All of us must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not get consumed by the misdirection of the winds and waves of our time.
I am delighted to come to the parish of the Good Shepherd to share my experience of God’s love as well as to listen to yours so together we will grow in the love God. Together we will experience the Love of God and come to experience JOY by loving Jesus, Others, Yourself.
Let us remember each other in prayer and at the altar daily.
Blessings Galore,
Father Jerry DiSpigno
My parents Joseph and Mildred have been daily communicants for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Rocky Point my three brothers and sister often argued with my parents because we did not want to go to church because it was boring and the priests didn't speak English, and the ones that did, didn't speak to us. My dad would remind us that we went to Church for Jesus, not for the priests nor anyone else for that matter.
It was the example of the Sisters of the Atonement who reminded us school children that there was a joyful God who loved us. After graduating Saint Anthony High School I pursued a degree in special education at Loyola College (now University) in Maryland. It was there through the encouragement of my friends, teachers and Jesuits that I discerned my call to the priesthood and entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington in 1977.
On April 1, 1981 a young deacon landed on the steps of Mary Immaculate Church in Bellport and served as a deacon and later a priest for three years. Following Bellport I have served in Saint Hugh of Lincoln in Huntington Station, Saint Mary in East Islip, Saint Christopher in Baldwin and Maria Regina in Seaford. In 2003 I was called to return to Bellport to succeed the pastor I had lived with upon his death. Twelve years later I was asked to be the pastor of Saint Gerard in Port Jefferson Station where I served since last March.
Retreat ministry to the young and old, to people in the mainstream and on the edge have been the crux of my ministry. I presently have been serving as a chaplain at the Yaphank prisons and often give retreats with the marginalized and mentally ill. I've given many directed retreats, at home retreats, and been a spiritual director and run a retreat house for priests. As this ministry began to take form in my life I went to study at the Jesuit School of theology in Berkeley, Saint Bonaventure (where currently one of my brothers Fr. Francis, is the campus minister and VP) and received a masters of spirituality and spiritual direction from Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1995.
Like Our Lady of Guadalupe all of us are called to share Jesus with the world. Each of us receive Him in the Eucharist which unites us to God and one another and are reminded of Gods great love for us .
These past six months I have been living a monastic schedule as a hermit in a hermitage built for priests over 20 years ago. The call to pray for priests has been heavy on my heart for many years and I asked Bishop Barres for some time away from the parish to live as a hermit in prayer. As you know the need to pray for priests and our Church is indeed important. All of us must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and not get consumed by the misdirection of the winds and waves of our time.
I am delighted to come to the parish of the Good Shepherd to share my experience of God’s love as well as to listen to yours so together we will grow in the love God. Together we will experience the Love of God and come to experience JOY by loving Jesus, Others, Yourself.
Let us remember each other in prayer and at the altar daily.
Blessings Galore,
Father Jerry DiSpigno
Father Lachlan Cameron
In Residence
Stony Brook University Chaplain |
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Peace be with you! Since my arrival at Good Shepherd, I have been able to greet some of you. Thanks again for your warm welcome. As promised at the Masses I addressed last weekend, here is a brief biography.
My father is Scottish; my mother is American. Having married in New York in 1972, they immediately moved to Scotland, where my father had his business. They spent the first twelve years of their marriage there, and my sister, two brothers, and I were born in Scotland. When I was almost three years old, my family moved to New York, settling in Bellerose Terrace and registering at my mother’s childhood parish of Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park. My siblings and I attended the parish grammar school.
After graduating Holy Spirit School, I attended Chaminade High School. During my high school years, I often felt the Lord calling me to service in the Church. Encouraged by my parents, parish priests, and the Marianists at Chaminade, I quietly discerned a call to priesthood. Sometimes I heard the voice of the Lord strongly, other times faintly. This discernment continued on and off for a few years. However, by the end of my time at St. John’s University, I decided to study for the priesthood, and I entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington in 2003. Thanks be to God, after five years of formation, including a Pastoral Year at St. Joseph’s in Ronkonkoma, I was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre at St. Agnes Cathedral on June 14, 2008.
These first years of priestly life have been full of joy. The Lord has been good to me. Immediately after ordination, I was assigned to St. Rose of Lima in Massapequa, where I ministered in all aspects of parish life. During that time, I would also cover an evening Mass at Hofstra or Adelphi Universities, and in 2012, I was appointed the Catholic Chaplain of Adelphi University.
In the fall of 2012 I was asked to enter the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome and prepare for the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See. Priests in this work, stationed in most every country throughout the world, help the Holy Father fulfill his role as pastor of the universal Church. After a period of prayer, I accepted the invitation and began the lengthy formation process in early 2013. The experience was enriching, but as the months passed, I realized that this particular way of living priestly life was not for me. The life is one of constant change, moving between posts every few years, and I came to realize the importance of stability and rootedness in my life. Within a year, I asked Bishop Murphy to return to the diocese. Happily, he welcomed me home and temporarily assigned me to
St. Anthony of Padua in East Northport as an Associate Pastor. I was there for six months.
Next, I was assigned as the Director of the Diocesan Office of Worship and as an Associate Pastor at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. After a year in those positions, I was then sent for further theological studies in Rome. Thus, in 2015, I returned to the Eternal City to begin a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Recently, after two years of study, the prospect of doctoral work and another degree was before me. While the thought of undertaking such study was exciting, for a variety of reasons I did not feel moved to pursue it, so I asked Bishop Barres to return to the diocese. He graciously accepted my request at the end of September and assigned me to serve in Holbrook. I am excited to be back in parish life and to be here with you at Good Shepherd.
My father is Scottish; my mother is American. Having married in New York in 1972, they immediately moved to Scotland, where my father had his business. They spent the first twelve years of their marriage there, and my sister, two brothers, and I were born in Scotland. When I was almost three years old, my family moved to New York, settling in Bellerose Terrace and registering at my mother’s childhood parish of Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park. My siblings and I attended the parish grammar school.
After graduating Holy Spirit School, I attended Chaminade High School. During my high school years, I often felt the Lord calling me to service in the Church. Encouraged by my parents, parish priests, and the Marianists at Chaminade, I quietly discerned a call to priesthood. Sometimes I heard the voice of the Lord strongly, other times faintly. This discernment continued on and off for a few years. However, by the end of my time at St. John’s University, I decided to study for the priesthood, and I entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington in 2003. Thanks be to God, after five years of formation, including a Pastoral Year at St. Joseph’s in Ronkonkoma, I was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre at St. Agnes Cathedral on June 14, 2008.
These first years of priestly life have been full of joy. The Lord has been good to me. Immediately after ordination, I was assigned to St. Rose of Lima in Massapequa, where I ministered in all aspects of parish life. During that time, I would also cover an evening Mass at Hofstra or Adelphi Universities, and in 2012, I was appointed the Catholic Chaplain of Adelphi University.
In the fall of 2012 I was asked to enter the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome and prepare for the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See. Priests in this work, stationed in most every country throughout the world, help the Holy Father fulfill his role as pastor of the universal Church. After a period of prayer, I accepted the invitation and began the lengthy formation process in early 2013. The experience was enriching, but as the months passed, I realized that this particular way of living priestly life was not for me. The life is one of constant change, moving between posts every few years, and I came to realize the importance of stability and rootedness in my life. Within a year, I asked Bishop Murphy to return to the diocese. Happily, he welcomed me home and temporarily assigned me to
St. Anthony of Padua in East Northport as an Associate Pastor. I was there for six months.
Next, I was assigned as the Director of the Diocesan Office of Worship and as an Associate Pastor at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. After a year in those positions, I was then sent for further theological studies in Rome. Thus, in 2015, I returned to the Eternal City to begin a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Recently, after two years of study, the prospect of doctoral work and another degree was before me. While the thought of undertaking such study was exciting, for a variety of reasons I did not feel moved to pursue it, so I asked Bishop Barres to return to the diocese. He graciously accepted my request at the end of September and assigned me to serve in Holbrook. I am excited to be back in parish life and to be here with you at Good Shepherd.