John P. Foley, S.J.

Chair Emeritus 
Cristo Rey Network
Chicago, IL

As Chair Emeritus and former Chief Mission Officer of the Cristo Rey Network, John P. Foley, S.J. promotes mission effectiveness across all schools and facilitates the Network’s faith formation. He is also instrumental in the Network’s School Growth efforts and serves as a key ambassador for the Cristo Rey movement at national and international events.

In January of 2005, he became President of the Cristo Rey Network. Prior to that he was a member of the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) founding team and was named the first President of the school in 1996. During his eight-year tenure, he oversaw the effort to establish the school, hiring of all personnel, student recruitment, and the construction of 150,000 square feet of classroom and recreation space. Father Foley and his team raised more than $26 million during this eight-year term and left Cristo Rey Jesuit High School with a $2 million endowment. More importantly, he established the tradition and spirit of a school that has become a national model. Having spent most of his Jesuit life in Peru, he served as President of two Jesuit K-12 schools in that country.

Father Foley entered the Society of Jesus in 1954. He earned a BA in Latin from Xavier University in Cincinnati and holds an MA in Sociology and an M.Ed. from Loyola University in Chicago. During his tenure with the Network he has received eight honorary degrees.