As Cristo Rey St. Martin begin its 20th year, administrators are reflecting on some of the influential partners who have helped shape the school and its students. And Fr. Corey is one of them.
A tribute to Fr. Corey is posted on the school’s’ homepage, in a story titled: A Journey of Faith and Justice: Fr. Corey Brost’s Enduring Impact on CRSM.
“From driving our students to their Corporate Work Study jobs the year we opened, to helping our current students become leaders of faith, Fr. Corey Brost has been with Cristo Rey St. Martin since its very beginning,” the story opens.
For his part, Fr. Corey was drawn to the school, he says, because of its mission of empowering young people of limited means to become men and women of faith, purpose and service.
“I was an educator already,” he says, “and wanted to combat the systematic injustice that freezes young people out of a Catholic education in our country, to promote a change.”
Fr. Corey Brost and CRSM President Preston Kendall accompanied students to the border in January.
The Viatorian Community was one of three religious congregations to be an endorsing community when Cristo Rey St. Martin opened in 2004. Over the last 20 years, Viatorians have served in its administration, on the faculty and staff, and serve on its board of trustees.
Viatorians also regularly celebrate Mass with the CRSM school community and participate in retreats. Fr. Corey has helped with both but Campus Ministers at the school also credit him with leading students to the U.S. Mexican border every year for an immersion trip, helping to develop students into leaders of faith at the Viatorian Youth Conference in the summers, and working with the Oportunidas Para Todos students in their fundraising efforts.
Fr. Corey describes his relationship with the school and its students as more than rewarding: “It’s life-giving. Whether it’s celebrating Mass with the community, or accompanying the students to the border, every time I spend time at CRSM it’s a good day. CRSM is a gift not only to the students but to the larger community. I see it in the students who are graduating, and I see it in the community.”
Ultimately, the school counts the Viatorian Community as one of its “founders” and expresses its thanks in concluding the story: “CRSM is blessed to have Fr. Corey Brost and the Viatorian brothers assist our students in Campus Ministry-related activities as they do. We are thankful for all of the support from the beginning, and looking forward to our future endeavors in working together in faith and justice.”