CCAD - Catholic Charities of South Jersey

The 22nd Catholic Charities Annual Dinner

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

About This Event

The Catholic Charities Annual Dinner serves the purpose of honoring the extraordinary service performed by individuals who demonstrate commitment to social justice and the needs of the poor while also raising funds that allow Catholic Charities to provide direct assistance to those they serve.
Every penny raised is used to serve those in Southern New Jersey who are in need, regardless of their faith. Inflation, higher costs of living, and the lack of affordable housing are affecting families like never before. The Annual Dinner enables us to provide mercy and comfort to those in our communities including those who are experiencing hunger, economic challenges, personal and family crises, and other hardships.
The Annual Dinner helps ensure Catholic Charities is there to meet the needs of our clients, allowing us to provide essential services such as food pantries, addictions healing services, veteran resources, homelessness prevention strategies, domestic violence support, immigration services, and other vital programs that work to create stabilization and self-sufficiency for individuals, families and communities.

P.O. Box 708 Camden, NJ 08101 | CCAD@camdendiocese.org | 856-583-6161

2026 Honoree

Bishop Joseph L. Coffey

The Saint John Neumann Award 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.

Bishop Coffey Bio: Aux Bishop, Archdiocese for the Military, USA

Bishop Coffey graduated from La Salle University in 1982 with a double major in English/French. He then worked oversees for five years before heeding a call to the priesthood. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree (MDiv) and was ordained in 1996 by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua. He earned a Master of Arts (MA) in Moral Theology, also from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 2000.

While still in seminary, Father Coffey was given permission by Cardinal Bevilacqua to enter the U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate Program in May of 1992 with the rank of Ensign. He stayed in the Navy Reserve for the next nine years.

Following ordination in 1996, Bishop Coffey was assigned as an Associate Pastor to St. Katherine of Siena parish in Philadelphia, PA. After five years in parish ministry, he was given permission by Cardinal Bevilacqua for full-time active duty as a Navy Chaplain in September of 2001.

Bishop Coffey’s duty assignments have included: Combat Assault Battalion, Okinawa, Japan; Division Officer and Command Chaplain on board USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), homeported in Norfolk, VA, with a 6 month deployment to the Arabian Gulf; Command Chaplain at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, NJ; Marine Air Group 39, Camp Pendleton, CA, an assignment that included a seven-month month deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Provence, Afghanistan; U.S. Navy Recruiting Command, St. Louis, MO; Command Chaplain on USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76), home ported in Yokosuka, Japan, with a six-month deployment to the South Pacific Ocean; and his final assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff for Religious Ministry, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA.

Bishop Coffey’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars, the Navy Achievement Medal with 2 gold stars, the Navy Sea Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the NATO Service Medal, 3 Battle E Ribbons.