Cooper Ray

Cooper Ray is a dynamic and light-hearted speaker and musician who shares his faith with honesty and passion. Through story, humor, and audience participation, Cooper leads groups of all ages to a greater awareness of who they are as Catholic Christians and how to recognize God’s presence in their lives.

He has entertained, motivated, and inspired youth and adults at Proud 2B Catholic Music Festivals, Catholic Heart Workcamps, Abbey Youth Festival as well as at numerous diocesan, parish, and school events across the country. Cooper has presented workshops at the National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministry and led music and emceed at catechetical sites at World Youth Day. His relevant message and crowd interaction can reach a teen all the way in the back row.

Cooper received his call to ministry while serving as a camp counselor at a Catholic summer camp during his college years. It was at camp where God ignited Cooper's love for music and knowledge of ministry and started him on a journey of drawing youth and adults to know and live the Gospel.

After six summers, he transitioned into diocesan ministry in Baton Rouge where he spent 10 years, including seven as the director of youth ministry. Soon after arriving in Baton Rouge, Cooper’s speaking ministry took off and schools, parishes, and other dioceses began to invite him to share his stories, music, and life experiences.

After 16 years in formal ministry, he started the next phase in his journey, answering the call to go on the road full-time. Cooper has been a contemporary music liturgy director at his parish for the past seven years and recently released his first solo album, Wake the Dawn. He was a contributing writer for Josh Blakesley’s “Our God is Good” and was featured on Steve Angrisano’s album Live: Songs from the Road. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in pastoral studies.

Cooper lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his wife Laura.