J. Antonio Fernández has made history as the first layperson to lead Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, one of the largest faith-based organizations in the United States. His appointment, which began on September 15, 2025, marks a major milestone for the charity that supports over 400,000 people across ten counties each year.
Before coming to New York, Fernández led Catholic Charities in San Antonio, where he worked on the front lines of the migrant crisis. In 2022, he witnessed one of the deadliest human smuggling incidents in U.S. history when 53 migrants were found dead inside a truck near San Antonio. “I saw a cadaver,” he said emotionally, recalling how the experience changed his life forever. That tragedy, he said, deepened his commitment to helping migrants and refugees seeking a better life.
Fernández’s own story mirrors those he now serves. Born in Spain, he arrived in the U.S. as a young man to study English in Chicago but ended up staying after meeting his future wife. He built his early career as a therapist and case manager on the city’s West Side while finding comfort and belonging in Holy Name Cathedral. “There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely,” he said, explaining how faith helped him build community in a foreign country.
Now in New York, Fernández is leading Catholic Charities New York through a challenging financial period. The organization’s federal funding was recently cut by $11 million, a 17% reduction that has hit immigration and food services the hardest. He recalled similar struggles in Texas, where funding shortfalls forced him to lay off nearly 200 employees. Despite these challenges, he remains hopeful, saying, “When the grants stop, we have to let people go, but when new ones come, we hire again.”
Local support from New York City and New York State has helped the agency continue serving vulnerable populations. Catholic Charities now relies more heavily on private donations and corporate partnerships to keep programs running. Fernández says that while government funding is essential, long-term success depends on community collaboration. “If we don’t have help from the government, we really need to put this on our backs,” he said.
Beyond immigration, Fernández is also tackling hunger and poverty in New York. The organization distributes more than 10 million meals each year, yet demand keeps rising. He aims to expand programs that not only feed people but also help them move out of poverty through job support and social services.
While immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified, Fernández insists Catholic Charities remains both lawful and compassionate. “We follow the law, but we will continue to provide humanitarian help to everyone who comes to us,” he said. His focus remains on service, not politics, even as the city prepares for a major mayoral election.
For Fernández, faith and empathy guide every decision. “Catholic Charities should not be an agency of the left or the right,” he said firmly. “We should be an agency of the people. We should be an agency of God.” His leadership, rooted in compassion and personal experience, signals a new chapter for Catholic Charities New York — one where service, humanity, and hope remain at the heart of its mission.