[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FATHER PETER PABST, S.J.

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. SAM T. LICCARDO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 15, 2026

  Mr. LICCARDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today alongside my colleagues, 
Representative Zoe Lofgren and Representative Jimmy Panetta, to honor 
the life and legacy of Jesuit Reverend Peter Pabst, S.J., who passed 
away peacefully on May 2, 2026. Affectionately known as Father Peter, 
he believed a family's income should not determine a child's access to 
world-class, Jesuit college-preparatory education. Guided by that 
conviction, he founded Sacred Heart Nativity Schools and Cristo Rey San 
Jose Jesuit High School, expanding opportunities for hundreds of 
students from low-income Latino neighborhoods and transforming 
countless lives.
  Father Peter joined the Society of Jesus in 1974 and proceeded to 
dedicate more than five decades to serving others through education, 
ministry, and pastoral care. His journey carried him through many 
Jesuit institutions, including Bellarmine College Preparatory, Santa 
Clara University, and Brophy College Preparatory, while earning degrees 
from Gonzaga University, the Jesuit School of Theology, and Santa Clara 
University.
  In 2000, Father Peter embarked on a mission to help children from 
low-income families find success in school. In 2001, he helped launch 
the Sacred Heart Nativity School for boys, and in 2006, Our Lady of 
Grace Nativity School for girls. These urban Catholic middle schools in 
San Jose prepare students--most of whom are Latino and speak a language 
other than English at home--for success in high school and beyond.
  In 2013, Father Peter took the helm as Founding President of Cristo 
Rey San Jose Jesuit High School, part of the Cristo Rey Network, and 
later led the school as Chancellor. Cristo Rey has a unique model, 
seeking to lift the aspirations and ambitions of children from first-
generation families whose parents have the lowest incomes in the 
community. They often come into high school a year or more behind in 
learning, but through intensive summer learning and Saturday classes, 
Cristo Rey helps the kids catch up, and excel, with college coursework. 
There is more: each of the students spend a day each week working for a 
local employer; in a city like San Jose, Cristo Rey exposes kids to the 
world's leading tech companies, ranging from Adobe and Alphabet to 
Zoom. The students thrive and learn in a work environment with college-
educated coworkers, gaining ``soft skills'' and building networks of 
caring adults who help them achieve career success.
  Father Peter's vision of student success transformed the lives of 
thousands of San Jose families: 97 percent of Cristo Rey graduates, 
primarily from low-income households, enroll in college immediately 
after high school. In each of the last three years, four-year colleges 
and universities accepted 100 percent of graduating seniors--nearly all 
of whom are the first in their families to go onto higher education. 
These achievements reflect not only institutional excellence, but 
Father Peter's unwavering conviction that young people thrive when 
trusted, challenged, and supported.
  On a personal level, we remember Father Peter for his humor, his 
warmth, and his remarkable ability to make every young person feel seen 
and valued. Whether leading spiritual Kairos retreats, celebrating 
Mass, greeting families, or simply sharing a joke in the hallway, 
Father Peter radiated joy and compassion. He also loved his Hawaiian 
shirts, which he often wore, and fine wines. He connected deeply to our 
community, presiding at more than 600 baptisms, weddings, and funerals 
in his lifetime, and many families regarded Father Peter as a spiritual 
mentor.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Father Peter Pabst as 
we share condolences with the Pabst family, and with his extended 
family in the community--his Jesuit brothers and his many, many 
friends. May his memory continue to inspire all who share his 
conviction in the transformative power of education and the boundless 
promise of every child.

                          ____________________