St. Charles Lwanga awardee finds service is rooted in faith

(Jacob Wiegand | jacobwiegand@archstl.org) Zoë Coffman, who is a lifelong parishioner of St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Church in St. Louis, is a recipient of the Leon Henderson Award from the St. Charles Lwanga Center.

Zoë Coffman receives Leon Henderson Award for positive impact in community

Jennifer Brinker

Submitted on June 5, 2026

As an eighth grader, Zoë Coffman chose St. Perpetua as her confirmation saint, not realizing that their stories would one day have similarities.

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity were young Christian women martyred in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia in North Africa) around 203 AD. While imprisoned awaiting execution, Perpetua appealed to the prison warden to secure better conditions for herself and her fellow prisoners, especially Felicity, who gave birth just days before their execution.

Now a mental‑health‑focused social worker and aspiring birth doula, Coffman sees in St. Perpetua’s advocacy a similar calling in her own life. Those values took shape at St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Church in St. Louis, where Coffman grew up and now co‑leads the confirmation program, assists with the arts and environment committee and helps wherever needed.

The St. Charles Lwanga Center honored Coffman with the Leon Henderson Award at its annual Testimonial Dinner on June 7. The award recognizes a young adult who makes a positive impact within the community, values and promotes leadership, academics and cultural development, possesses Christ-like integrity of character and is committed to Christian values. Coffman was one of several people honored for their contributions to the Church and wider community.

“Faith through the Rock Church has been the model for me for what service and being a part of your community looks like, what being a good neighbor looks like,” she said. “I remember many Gospel readings centering around the message of being a good neighbor and caring for others.”

Coffman, 23, watched her parents’ involvement in various ministries while growing up at the Rock Church. When she returned to St. Louis after graduating from Howard University in 2024, she quickly stepped back into parish life. This year marked her first time co-leading the parish’s confirmation preparation program, working with two eighth graders alongside fellow parishioner and young adult Caleb Camp.

Walking the candidates through the process has given Coffman a new appreciation for the sacrament and how it helped her claim her Catholic faith as her own, she said. She has encouraged the newly confirmed to find ways to stay rooted in their faith, especially beyond high school and into young adulthood as they move out from under the guidance of their parents.

“I appreciate that (confirmation) takes place during a time of transition for them, that they get to make this decision and feel fully connected to their faith,” Coffman said. “Caleb and I are always reminding them that faith is a journey, and it’s a winding road — it’s not always a straight path.”

Zoë Coffman posed for a portrait at her home parish, St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

In her nomination for the award, Coffman was described as demonstrating moral clarity, integrity, humility and compassion. She uplifts those most in need, encourages the dignity of every person and models the values of Christ in her daily ministry.

Last month, she earned a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, where she concentrated in mental health. As part of her graduate studies, she completed over 700 hours of community service in four areas — research and advancement, community support, school social work and spiritual leadership.

She served at The Community Reach, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting underserved communities affected by systemic poverty. She also contributed through grant writing, trauma-informed program development, community healing initiatives and co-facilitating tornado relief support groups. As a school social worker, she provided direct counseling and educational support to students.

Coffman views all the work as a single response to God’s call to support others.

“I always felt called to help people or be a listening ear, or try and be supportive when I can,” Coffman said. “If we have a calling or a gift that’s been given to us by God, I feel like I want to be a healer. And when I come to church, or when I’m reflecting on my faith, I feel like that’s a confirmation of my path and purpose — that this is what God has put me here to do.”