Luminaria
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Hilllenmeyer Memorial Endowment


2022 Winners
Charlene Legere, Bill Hoskins, Kim Thompson, Mary Joe Quinn
Charlene Legere
Distinguished Educator Award
For thirty-nine years, the Lexington Catholic High School community has been blessed to count Charlene
Legere as a member of its faculty and school community. Over 4000 students have benefited from her instruction of the whole student – mind, spirit and body – and she has dedicated her entire teaching career and life’s work to Catholic education.
While at Lexington Catholic, Charlene has worn many hats including mathematics instruction at every level; college prep, honors, and AP, as well as other discipline classes. She has given confidence to students who
may struggle and challenged those who excel. She has sponsored clubs, activities and events including retreats, Student Government, the House System, and the High Marks Program. She has logged countless volunteer hours, chaperoned numerous events, and mentored
an untold number of Lexington Catholic graduates as they found their calling in education.
As a member of Pax Christi Catholic Church, Charlene’s involvement in the parish is a clear demonstration of her faith and commitment to Catholic teachings. Whether giving of her time on a variety of parish committees, being an active part of the Christ Renews His Parish retreats, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, or using her mathematical talents to assist with the financial aspects of the parish, Charlene exemplifies what it means to be a servant leader to those at Pax Christi and beyond.
Charlene is retiring at the end of the 2022 school year and while she will be deeply missed by her colleagues, parents, and most especially the students of Lexington Catholic, she has left a legacy that will never be forgotten and never matched. CEOF can think of no better recipient for the first Luminaria Distinguished Educator Award than Ms. Charlene Legere.
Mary Joe Quinn
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Mary Joe Quinn has been a parishioner of the Cathedral of Christ the King for 70 years. From
attending CTK elementary school, to graduating from Lexington Catholic High School, to earning a bachelor’s
degree from Eastern Kentucky University and an elementary education Certificate from the University of Kentucky, Mary Joe has carried her faith, her artistic talent and her unwavering dedication to Mary the Mother of Jesus every step of the way.
Mary Joe and John W. Quinn were married at Christ the King in 1973 and a year later she began her teaching career at St. Leo’s in Versailles. Their family grew to include four daughters who would become their greatest accomplishment. While raising a family, Mary Joe continued her talents in the classroom when she joined the faculty of CTK in 1977 teaching art, social studies, and science. Continuing her own education, she earned
a master’s degree from Georgetown College and
while teaching in Scott County began the county’s art program in six elementary schools. Mary Joe retired from teaching in 2014 from the place where it all began, Christ the King.
During the 40+ years she served the diocese, she became an advocate for art and faith for all students. In 2013, Mary Joe was recognized by the Kentucky Art Education Association for her commitment to her students and the arts when she was named Art Teacher of the Year for Private Schools.
In 2000 she provided a wonderful opportunity for students to deepen their relationship with Mary by praying the Holy Rosary as a school community. Her dedication to Mary, instilled in her by her parents, Joe and Mary Emily Taylor, continues to this day.
Mary Joe’s contributions to the spiritual life of her parish, her students, her colleagues and her community at large make her the perfect recipient of the first Luminaria Distinguished Alumnus Award.
2022 Program PDF

2023 SPeaker
Father Joseph (Joe) Corpora is a Holy Cross priest at the University of Notre Dame. He is presently the Interim Director of Multicultural Outreach for the Campus Ministry and continues as a Consultant to the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) as well as a resident chaplain at Dillon Hall at ND’s campus. Father Corpora has long been engaged in promoting the benefits of Catholic education in the Hispanic, African-American and other under-represented populations in our Catholic school system. He is also a Papal Missionary of Mercy commissioned by Pope Francis.
Father Corpora is himself a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and after graduating entered Moreau Seminary of the Holy Cross priests there at the university. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1984. Since ordination he has served at the University of Portland, at Saint John Vianney Parish in Goodyear, Arizona and Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland before returning to Notre Dame. He is an engaging presenter who is able to present challenging ideas while making his audience laugh. He has a life long commitment to Catholic education and decades of work trying to make it available to more and more people.