Our Roots
A Faith That Does Justice was founded in 2015 by Fr. Peter W. Gyves, SJ, MD, to offer to others the experience of self-transformation and transcendence that comes from living beyond oneself and on behalf of others. Father Peter was inspired to enter the Society of Jesus and ultimately founded A Faith That Does Justice after his own experience working in El Salvador in the midst of their 10-year civil war, which resulted from years of systematic and violent repression of its citizens by a military-backed government that eventually claimed the lives of 70,000 people.
In 1989, while Father Peter was serving as a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health, six Jesuits and two female co-workers were assassinated in El Salvador for their work with, and advocacy for, the poor. Father Peter was so profoundly moved by this injustice that he acted instinctively, traveling to El Salvador to join the Salvadoran people in their suffering and struggle for justice. As a physician, he offered health care in some of its marginalized communities and conflict zones to people who had been abandoned by their government. His experience was transformational. This work emboldened him to leave behind his life of privilege and a promising career as a physician to enter a world of human suffering where so many people die before their time.
The photograph on the right is from Father Peter’s experiences in Central America. This led him to shift his focus from being a physician-scientist to helping others in their struggle for justice and, ultimately, founding A Faith That Does Justice to raise consciousness about social issues affecting the most vulnerable people.
A Faith That Does Justice is the culmination of Father Peter’s life’s work and his lasting impact on God’s earth.
A Faith That Does Justice Today
In 2016, Father Peter moved the organization from San Diego to Boston, where it is headquartered now. He led A Faith That Does Justice as its President and Executive Director until his death in 2024.
A Faith That Does Justice has grown into a national organization with followers in all 50 states and across the world. As an all-volunteer organization, A Faith That Does Justice welcomes people of all backgrounds to put their faith into action to create a more just world.
Our programs fall under our two key strategic areas of focus:
- Acting to help those in need with a particular emphasis on immigrant populations.
- Showing how unjust systems marginalize people and encouraging our followers to put their faith into action to address injustice.
We integrate this vision into all of our programming, which includes:
- Fireside Chats that explore current social justice issues
- The Weekly Word, a weekly email that gives voice to faith leaders of different traditions across the country who discuss social justice issues from a faith perspective.
- Our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program that provides free virtual and in-person instruction for English language learners in collaboration with Jewish Vocational Service (JVS).
- Our Grab & Go meal program, a food preparation and distribution program for people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Boston.
- Our weekly newsletter, which includes a spiritual reflection by theologians, as well as social justice news and events.
A Tribute to Our Founder
Priest and prophet. Leader and servant. Together, these characterize the remarkable life of Father Peter, who fulfilled each of these roles with conviction, passion, and humility. Father Peter was a beacon of light, hope, and inspiration. He leaves a long legacy of inspiring faith in action and speaking truth to power.
The third of eleven children, Father Peter lived what he called a life of privilege, and he thrived in his pursuit of education. Despite his years of study, during which he earned a BS from Boston College, an MD from Georgetown University, an MA in Theology from Boston College, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Weston School of Theology and an MPH from Johns Hopkins University, he often said that his experience in El Salvador was the greatest and most compelling education he received.
As a Catholic priest in the Christian tradition, Father Peter was noted for his exceptional homilies, each delivered without notes or hesitation, educating participants in the liturgy about the historical context and spiritual meaning of the scriptures, before exhorting the congregation to put their faith into action. Like the great prophets, Father Peter could deliver harsh truths, to authorities, to his congregation and to public audiences. He did so with both confidence and compassion, seeking to inspire each person to seek opportunities to walk with love and solidarity with those who are suffering, with the ultimate goal of achieving justice.
Father Peter’s message and legacy live on. You can revisit Father Peter’s words and his commitment to faith in action:
Watch Father Peter’s homilies
Watch Father Peter’s funeral Mass
Read Father Peter’s words
Kindness and Civility in Society?
A house divided against itself cannot stand. (Mt 12:25) As civil discourse deteriorates in our country, we run the risk of establishing a new and very negative “normative” for human behavior. Much of the responsibility for this trend rests with government officials who lie and demean others, rather ... Read More>
What Does It Mean for Us to Live with Jesus as the Bread of Life
Today’s The Weekly Word is a special edition that contains the video and transcription of Father Peter’s homily at his last Mass on August 4, 2024 before his passing a few days later. We hope you find inspiration from his final words. Click here to watch the video or read the transcripti... Read More>
Join A Faith That Does Justice’s Call for a Cease Fire in Israel and Gaza
Over the past few weeks, I have heard from many of you who watched my homily during which I expressed my anguish as a Christian and as a human being at the violence and loss of life in the Middle East. So many of you have experienced similar feelings and have expressed to me your desire to find a pa... Read More>
Support our work
As an all-volunteer organization with minimal overhead, your investment in A Faith That Does Justice will go far in supporting our programs and helping us serve the most vulnerable among us.
We have many opportunities available for new volunteers to utilize their talents to benefit others.
