Floor SpeechUrgent2026-05-15

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

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Context

On 2026-05-15, Representative Sam T. Liccardo (D-CA-16) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FATHER PETER PABST, S.J." in the House.

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

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026) [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. ____________________

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HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FATHER PETER PABST, S.J. Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026) [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. ____________________