Veteran social services leader, first lay person to guide 108-Year-Old Catholic Social Service Agency

September 15, 2025 – New York, NY — J. Antonio Fernández has just become the first lay person to run the 108-year-old Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, the social service organization announced today. Fernández brings more than two decades of experience expanding access to critical human services for vulnerable communities. 

While not a member of the clergy, Fernández has a strong connection to Catholic Charities’ mission and its mission of serving those in need. Previously, he was the President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio for 13 years and prior to that, he was an executive leader at Catholic Charities of Chicago.

“Catholic Charities is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, and I am honored to join their mission in providing compassionate care, and respect to those that need our assistance,” said Fernández. “I look forward to working with our dedicated staff, partners, and volunteers to build on Catholic Charities’ legacy – helping to lead and grow this critical New York organization into the future.”

Catholic Charities New York, which traces its roots back to the Catholic Benevolent League, assisted orphans after the War of 1812 and the Civil War. It was officially incorporated as Catholic Charities in 1917. Currently, the organization serves over 400,000 New Yorkers annually and, through its programs, helps to build the fabric of a caring New York. In the past year alone, Catholic Charities served ten-plus million meals through soup kitchens and pantries, assisted nearly 100,000 children through after-school and other programs and helped 108,000 nearly arrived individuals and immigrants. The agency also works with families in crisis, those experiencing homelessness and builds and provides housing.

Mr. Fernández shared that his goal is to continue strengthening and expanding services for New Yorkers in need, ensuring that all support is delivered with respect and dignity. His main areas of focus at this time include feeding the hungry, providing self-sufficiency and case management services to those who need them most, increasing access to housing for individuals and families facing housing insecurity, and innovating whenever possible to improve outcomes and broaden Catholic Charities’ footprint. 

Since 2013, Fernández has led Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, where he transformed the agency from 17 to more than 50 programs, quadrupled its operating budget, and built a nationally recognized model for humanitarian response, housing support, immigration legal aid, and family services across 19 South Texas counties.

Previously, Fernández served as the Senior Vice President of Operations at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and Deputy Director of Welfare Programs at Casa Central. He holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master’s in Counseling Psychology, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor, holds nonprofit management certification, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities USA.

Fernández succeeds Monsignor Kevin Sullivan who has transitioned into an advisory position as Executive Director Emeritus.

About Catholic Charities of New York

Catholic Charities is a federation of approximately 90 affiliated independent agencies and programs located throughout the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of New York, helping to solve the problems of New Yorkers in need – non-Catholics and Catholics alike – with services that protect and nurture children, strengthen families and resolve crises, assist the hungry and homeless, support the physically and emotionally challenged, and integrate immigrants and refugees.

As Catholic Charities enters its Second Century of service, they continue to provide basic human services that are efficient, effective, and accountable – and to being a valued partner in building the fabric of a caring New York with stabilizing housing for lower-income New Yorkers, building new affordable housing for families and those with special needs, providing nutritious supplemental food, supporting those with mental illnesses, integrating immigrants and refugees, and responding to community emergencies and disasters.