PLACE Goals

• To bring teachers to the schools of the Los Angeles Archdiocese who share a passion for Catholic education, who themselves are the “product” of Catholic education.
• To seek teachers, in light of the diminished presence of religious in Catholic schools, who will continue the rich tradition of Catholic education.
• To provide schools with highly qualified and motivated young teachers who will help to energize Catholic schools with their enthusiasm.
• To create an opportunity for program participants to live in a communal context as “men and women for and with others,” serving those most in need.
• To attend to the Church’s concern for having an “option for the poor.”
• To serve students in Catholic schools by providing positive, Catholic role models who themselves are on their faith journey.
• To structure mentoring and support for new teachers so that they will experience the rewards of teaching that far outweigh the challenges of the profession.
• To offer an opportunity for LMU to “give something back” to the Los Angeles Catholic community that has historically supported LMU as the premiere Catholic university in Southern California.
• To extend the sense of community between LMU and the local Catholic elementary and secondary schools, and their respective parishes, through the partnership of the PLACE Corps and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
• To deliver to LMU alumni an opportunity to support the mission and goals of the University while supporting Catholic education throughout the Los Angeles area.
• To develop dedicated, future Catholic school leaders who will support and advocate for the mission and goals of Catholic education.
• To broaden the work of the University Consortium for Catholic Education (UCCE) and the partnership with the University of Notre Dame, supporting each other and sharing resources, thus strengthening and sustaining Catholic higher education nationwide.