Historical directory of Hungarian, Hungarian-descended, and Hungarian-speaking clergy serving abroad

Fényes Lajos (OFMConv)

Fényes Lajos (OFMConv)
Left ministry
Birth data:
Kaposvár, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary — June 24, 1878
Death data:
New York, NY, USA — April 1935
Denomination:
Reformed
previously: Roman Catholic (1916-ig)
Ecclesiastical status:
religious
previously: diocesan
Diocese / Order:
Csongrád-Csanád (korábban: Csanád) (1905-ig) → Minorita (Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium)
Ordination level:
priest
Entry into religious life:
Bécs, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Wien, Austria — February 23, 1902
First (temporary) vows:
ismeretlen
Perpetual vows:
ismeretlen
Priestly ordination:
Budapest, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary — October 30, 1904
Place of burial:
Michaels Cemetery
Astoria, NY, USA
Biographical data
In other sources, his name is given as László. He began his seminary studies as a seminarian in the Diocese of Csanád, then entered the Order of Friars Minor in Vienna on February 23, 1902. In 1903, he requested a transfer to the Hungarian province of the Order. He was ordained a priest in Budapest on October 30, 1904. In 1905, he left the Order and became editor of the newspaper *Független Magyarország* (Independent Hungary). He arrived in the United States aboard the steamship *Ultonia* on November 14, 1906. At that time, he requested to be transferred to the American province of the order. He was accused of moral misconduct both in Arad and in the United States, and as a result, he was suspended in 1912. He did not accept the suspension, but the church wardens refused to let him into the church, so a brawl broke out, resulting in all of them being arrested. He was discharged from the Hungarian Army in 1916. He married and converted to the Reformed Church. He worked as a senior journalist for the *Amerikai Magyar Népszava*. He died suddenly of a heart attack.
Domestic service locations
From To Place i Current name, country i Church / institution Position
1904 Arad, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy Hungary religious educator, secretary
1905 Szeged, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy Hungary military chaplain (from the Diocese of Csanád)
Foreign service locations
From To Place Current name, country Church / institution Position
1906 Connellsville, PA, USA Szent Imre R. K. Egyházközség parish priest
1906 1907 Throop, PA, USA parish priest
1907 New York, NY, USA Szent István R. K. Egyházközség assistant pastor
Literary activity
Cikkei jelentek meg az Arad és Vidéke c. újságban 1904-1905.
Jézus gyermekei. Imakönyv, Arad, 1904.
Life timeline
Birth
Kaposvár, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary
Entry into religious life
Bécs, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Wien, Austria
Priestly ordination
Budapest, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary
Service in the homeland
Arad, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary
religious educator, secretary
Service in the homeland
Szeged, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary
military chaplain (from the Diocese of Csanád)
Service abroad
Connellsville, PA, USA
Szent Imre R. K. Egyházközség
parish priest
Service abroad
19061907
Throop, PA, USA
parish priest
Service abroad
New York, NY, USA
Szent István R. K. Egyházközség
assistant pastor
Death
New York, NY, USA
Sources
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Citation for this entry
Fényes Lajos (OFMConv): personal record. In: Historical directory of Hungarian, Hungarian-descended, and Hungarian-speaking clergy serving abroad. Available at: https://www.diaszporalelkipasztorok.hu/persons_v2/view.php?id=273 (accessed: 2026-07-07).
Last modified: July 5, 2026 22:04 | Opened: 65 times