From the Field: Fr. Joe Corpora, C.S.C.

Father Joe Corpora, C.S.C., an alumnus of Notre Dame and a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross, is the director of University-School Partnerships in ACE. He works to build lasting alliances with schools and dioceses as leader of ACE's Catholic School Advantage campaign, the initiative to double the percentage of Latinos who send their children to Catholic elementary and secondary schools by 2020.

Father Joe served at the University of Portland in Oregon for six years before beginning two decades as a pastor-first at St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear, Arizona, a parish that is 90% Mexican-American and Mexican, and then at Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Oregon. In the former position, he founded the first Catholic school to be opened in the Diocese of Phoenix in thirty years. He returned to Notre Dame in 2009.

Corpora says, “We must do a better job serving Latino children and families if the Catholic Church in the United States is going to have a strong future.  And each of us – pastors, principals, teachers, board members, everybody! – has a role to play!”

Fr. Joe’s work in the Catholic School Advantage Campaign brings him around the country to give presentations and to coach school leaders in how to make their schools more welcoming to Latino children and families.

 
For more information on the Catholic School Advantage Campaign, visit catholicschooladvantage.nd.edu.