Corcuera was among the founding class of students at the Legion of Christ’s Irish Institute ("Instituto Irlandés") established in Mexico City. The prestigious private school now includes grades from preschool (or kindergarten) through grade 12. In 1969 at the age of 12, Álvaro traveled to Ireland along with a few other young students as part of the founding group of the Legion's Irish language academy, now called Dublin Oak. During his stay in Dublin, he had his first inklings of a priestly vocation.