[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 14, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING FATHER MARTIN ELSNER, SJ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2018

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father 
Martin Elsner, SJ, who passed away on February 4, 2018. Father Elsner 
hailed from my hometown of San Antonio, and we will miss him deeply.
  Father Elsner was born in St. Louis on September 1, 1931. He attended 
Jesuit High in Dallas and Price High in Amarillo and later continued 
his studies at St. Charles College. Father Elsner went on to earn a 
bachelor's degree in English at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama; 
a master's degree in Education; and studied theology at St. Mary's 
College in St. Marys, Kansas.
  Prior to his ministry in San Antonio, Father Elsner began his 
priestly ministry in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he served as an 
assistant principal at Jesuit High School from 1964 to 1968. After, 
Father Elsner was appointed Rector-President at Jesuit High School in 
El Paso, Texas, where eventually he also served as both President and 
Principal. After three years in school administration in El Paso, he 
was Pastor for eight years at St. Joseph Church in Houston, Texas and 
was also a religious leader at the Metropolitan Organization in 
Houston.
  Continuing his ministry in Texas, Father Elsner became a Pastor at 
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Antonio where he remained until 
just last year--serving twice as a Pastor and many years as an 
associate. Father Elsner was also active in the Communities Organized 
for Public Service (COPS) and was also spiritual director at Assumption 
Seminary in San Antonio from 2011 to 2017.
  Father Elsner was a true pillar in San Antonio and to the state of 
Texas--always giving back to the community and making our state shine 
it's brightest. Father Elsner was very active in the Texas Coalition to 
Abolish the Death Penalty, as well as the Southside Consortium for 
Catholic Schools and Westside Catholic Schools. He also frequently 
served as a celebrant for the televised Mass on Catholic Television of 
San Antonio.
  Throughout his lifetime, he received awards of Outstanding Leader 
recognition from the archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools in 
1997, and the Benetia Humanitarian Award from the Missionary Catechists 
of Divine Providence in 2013. These awards don't even fully explain 
what Father Elsner accomplished in his lifetime.
  Father Elsner was a kind and humble man, dedicated to bettering the 
lives of the people in San Antonio and everywhere else he spent time. 
His footprint is everlasting, and his leadership as an educator and 
religious figure to many will be greatly missed.

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