A Letter from His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Dear Friends of Catholic Charities:
Wherever I go in New York, I run into the good that Catholic Charities does. Whether I’m in New York City or the Hudson Valley, I’m awed not so much by the magnitude of Catholic Charities but by the personal, individual service it provides.
I see a person’s dignity enhanced where everyone is called by name, where they are welcomed and treated with love and respect as members of God’s family. We’ve been doing this in the Archdiocese of New York since day one.
This is a vibrant family of close to 90 agencies, each with their distinctive charms, history and programs, yet united by common values — most fundamentally that each person is made in the image of God and saved by Jesus Christ, His Son. We have a glorious past and we’re looking to the future to continue to strive to find even better ways of providing help that creates hope in human lives. Our faith and our mission require no less.
I ask you to join us, to support Catholic Charities and all the good that it does, so that together in this community that we love we can make sure there is a place at the table for those who have nowhere else to go.
Faithfully in Christ,
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
Chief Executive Officer, J. Antonio Fernández
J. Antonio Fernández currently serves as President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, one of the nation’s largest and most impactful networks of social services. In this role, he leads programs that support hundreds of thousands of individuals and families across the region, addressing critical needs with compassion, dignity, and efficiency.
Prior to his leadership in New York, Mr. Fernández served from 2013 as President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. There, he oversaw a period of significant growth, expanding the number of programs from 17 to more than 50 and quadrupling the organization’s annual budget. His leadership also encompassed affiliated agencies including the Guadalupe Community Center, Seton Home, St. PJ’s Children’s Home, and San Antonio Birth Doulas, making Catholic Charities the largest Catholic social services agency in the city.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Fernández held the position of Senior Vice President of Operations at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the largest Catholic Charities organization in the country. He was responsible for the leadership and operations of a wide range of social service programs, including oversight of facilities and infrastructure.
Mr. Fernández’s national leadership includes service on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities USA, where he currently chairs the Latino Advisory Council and serves on the Development Committee. He is also active with several other organizations, including serving on the Finance and Development Committees of Legatus, the Knights of Columbus, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and the CVS Health Faith-Based and Business Leaders Advisory Council. He also participates in Cabinet Meetings convened by His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Mr. Fernández holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He is a certified nonprofit executive and a licensed Professional Counselor.
He is married to Tanya Fernández, and they have a daughter, Elis Fernández, who attends Dominican Academy.
Senior Management
J. Antonio Fernández
Chief Executive Officer
Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Ph.D
Executive Director Emeritus
Kelly Agnew-Barajas, MSW
Co-Director Immigrant and Refugee Services Division, Catholic Charities Community Services
Marion D. Boteju
Corporate Secretary and Chief of Staff
Reverend Eric Cruz, MPA
Catholic Charities Director of Bronx Services
Philip Dorian, MBA
Senior Director for Federation Advancement
Lisa M. Flores
Executive Director, Catholic Charities Community Services
Neil P. Flynn
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Joy Jasper, MS
Director, Human Resources, Catholic Charities Community Services
Andrea Jordan
Deputy Executive Director for Programs, Catholic Charities Community Services
Sheila Lennon
Senior Director, Development & Events
Talia Bernal Lockspeiser, MSW
Associate Executive Director
Margaret Martin, JD
Co-Director Immigrant and Refugee Services Division, Catholic Charities Community Services
Lakisha Morris, MPA
Director, Food Security & Housing Stability, Catholic Charities Community Services
Harold Moss, LMSW, MA
Director, Beacon of Hope, Catholic Charities Community Services
Peggy O’Neill
Chief Advancement Officer
Seth Peloso. M. Ed.
Director of Catholic Youth Organization
Kerry Price
Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Catholic Charities Community Services
Michele Rodriguez, LMSW
Director, Neighborhood Centers, Catholic Charities Community Services
Eddie Silverio
Director, Youth Services, Catholic Charities Community Services
Beatriz Diaz Taveras
Director of Public and Community Engagement