Doc. Joe Coquilla

Doc. Joe Coquilla originally came from the Philippines and moved to the United States in 2006.

He studied Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Notre Dame University in the Philippines as Cum Laude in 1987. After graduation from college, he proceeded to take up theological graduate studies. He graduated cum laude from Loyola School of Theology (1992), then at Jesuit- Ateneo de Manila University for his Master’s Degrees in Theology (1992) and in Teaching Philosophy (2000). He was ordained as a catholic priest in 1992 by Archbishop Philip Smith, OMI, DD, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cotabato.

For two years, he was assigned as Associate Pastor at Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria Parish in Tacurong City (1992-1994), Province of Sultan Kudarat. He was elevated as Pastor in San Isidro Parish in the coastal Town of Kalamansig (1994-1996), Province of Sultan Kudarat. His mastery in theology and philosophy brought him to be assigned to Notre Dame Archdiocesan Seminary (1996-2006), the diocesan formation center for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Cotabato. He taught philosophy and theology to the seminarians at Notre Dame University, Cotabato City, from 1996 to 2006. He was sent for special studies at Varese, Italy, on Human Formation and Spiritual Integration in 1999, after which he helped him in his ministry to the seminarians at the diocesan seminary.

His transfer to the United States in 2006 became a unique venue for Doc. Coquilla will continue teaching at US community colleges. Having spent almost ten years as a philosophy faculty member in the Philippines, Rev. Coquilla is considering teaching philosophy at the local community college. He started as an adjunct faculty member of the Houston Community in 2010, teaching Ethics and Introduction to Philosophy, then as an adjunct faculty member at Lone Star College in 2011, and then became an adjunct faculty member for philosophy at San Jacinto College in 2013. From 2017 until now, Alvin Community College has included him to teach at their college. 

He married a nurse/nurse practitioner by profession and an entrepreneur woman who managed their business in the Philippines and the US. Doc. Joe and Mary Jane have three children: Jecho, Joshua, and Julia. The family founded and managed Leucan Enterprises, LLC, a group of businesses both in the Philippines and the US. All three kids are now serving as volunteers for the Santo Nino Community. Jecho serves as videographer and technology in charge, Joshua is an altar server, and Julia is part of the welcome team.

Doc. Joe graduated with a doctorate in education, specializing in higher learning and adult education. He published "Student Success in higher education" as part of his capstone study with his doctorate program at Walden University. He also aspires to work again as a married clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. As part of the church plant team, he is the music director of the community.