Most Reverend Robert J. Coyle

Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre
Episcopal Vicar for the Western Suffolk and Eastern Suffolk Vicariates

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Bishop Coyle was born September 23, 1964 in Brooklyn, N.Y.  His parents, Robert and Kathryn Coyle, currently live in Cold Spring Hills, N.Y.  The product of a life-long Catholic education, Bishop Coyle graduated from Saint Edward the Confessor Elementary School, Syosset, N.Y., in 1978; Saint Mary’s Boys High School, Manhasset, N.Y., in 1982; Fordham University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, in 1986; and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, N.Y., with a Master of Divinity in 1991 and a Master of Arts degree in Theology in 1998.  He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1991 for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y. by Bishop John R. McGann at Saint Agnes Cathedral.

Bishop Coyle was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy on June 3, 1988 and served 24-and-a-half years on Active and Reserve Duty before his retirement from the Navy Reserve on January 1, 2013.  As a Navy Reserve Chaplain, Bishop Coyle served as Associate Pastor at Saint Dominic Church in Oyster Bay, N.Y. from 1991 to 1996 and Saint Patrick’s Church in Glen Cove, N.Y. from 1996 to 1999.

Bishop Coyle served on Active Duty from 1999 to 2009.  He was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan from 1999 to 2000, 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 aircraft carrier USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) from 2000 to 2003, he deployed to the Middle East from 2000-2001 and served in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002 to 2003.  Assigned to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. from 2003 to 2007, Bishop Coyle reported first as Assistant Command Chaplain before assuming duties as Command Chaplain.  In April of 2005, Bishop Coyle was promoted to the rank of Commander, U.S. Navy.  From 2007 to 2009, he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and deployed to the Middle East in 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In August of 2009, Bishop Coyle separated from Active Duty, returned to Reserve status and began ministry as Pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Mineola, N.Y.  In 2008, he was named by Pope Benedict XVI a Chaplain to His Holiness, a recognition that carried the honorary title, “Monsignor.”  Bishop Coyle is a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus.

On February 11, 2013, then Monsignor Coyle was appointed an Auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA by Pope Benedict XVI.  He served five years as the Vicar of the Eastern Vicariate military bases.  His episcopal ordination took place in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the Feast of Saint Mark, April 25, 2013.

On February 20, 2018, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Coyle Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y.  Bishop Coyle began his service to the Diocese of Rockville Centre on April 2, 2018.