Pope Francis Names Two Navy Chaplains as Military Auxiliary Bishops
- By Gary Nguyen --
- 27 Jan 2019 --
The post has an international scope
Pope Francis appointed two auxiliary bishops to serve the Archdiocese for the U.S. Military Service. Father William Muhm and Father Joseph Coffey are both military chaplains.
Pope Francis Names Two Navy Chaplains as Military Auxiliary Bishops[/tweetthis]
Father Coffey is at present a priest attached to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He has previous experience as a military chaplain with the U.S. Navy. In his new position, Coffey has been assigned titular see over North Africa. Father Muhm is at present on leave from his chaplain assignment in the U.S. Navy. He is presently the Parochial Administrator for Most Precious Blood parish in Walden, New York. Muhm’s titular see is located in North Africa’s Capsus.
Their new appointment as bishops for the Archdiocese for the Military Services means both Muhm and Coffey will quench the spiritual thirst of Marine Corps, U.S. Army, Coast Guard, and Navy personnel. They will also serve those employed in government service outside the U.S. and for the Department for Veterans Affairs. Coffey was last deployed in Afghanistan while Muhm was last deployed in Iraq. The former is a Navy captain. He was also honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Military Chaplains Association. Coffey's assignments span a total of 18 years as Navy Chaplain. He has served with Marines in Okinawa, Japan and Cape May, N.J.'s Coast Guard Training Facility.
Father Coffey served multiple pastoral assignments after his ordination as the Vicar General, St. Katherine, attached to Siena Parish. He was also the Spiritual Director of the Holy Family curia or “Legion of Mary.” Coffey was a Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese member and a military chaplain in the U.S. Navy. His period of service as Military Chaplain started in 2001. He subsequently reached Captain rank and served as a recruiter for “Chaplain Corps.”
Father Muhm, after his ordination, served as the Ossining located St. Ann Parish's Parochial Vicar. He was also attached to the Holy Family order on Staten Island. He served as Military Chaplain in U.S. Navy from 1998 to 2018. This was the time he went on to do his military service before his ordination. Muhm went on to complete his ministry as Military Chaplain. He completed his service in 2018 and achieved captain rank. He also enrolled in Rome’s Institute for Ongoing Theological Education from the Pontifical North American College. The responsibility of Archdiocese for the Military Services encompasses over 1.8 million women, children, and men over 29 countries around the world.
Resources
RELATED NEWS
