Nyírbátor, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary — September 21, 1903
Death data:
Hamilton, ON, Canada — April 8, 1984
Denomination:
Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
religious
Diocese / Order:
jezsuita (Societas Jesu)
Ordination level:
priest
Entry into religious life:
Érd, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary — September 15, 1923
Perpetual vows:
Kassa, Csehszlovákia, currently Košice, Slovakia — July 26, 1935
Priestly ordination:
Innsbruck, Austria — July 26, 1935
Other name used:
Horváth
Biographical data
József Hitter, S.J., was born on September 21, 1903, in Nyírbátor. He came from a religious family; his two brothers also chose the priesthood. He entered the Society of Jesus in Érd on September 15, 1923. He completed his studies in philosophy in Szeged between 1926 and 1928 and studied theology in Innsbruck between 1933 and 1936. He was ordained a priest on July 26, 1935. He struggled with poor health throughout his life, which required him to undergo treatment or take sick leave on several occasions.
In 1938, he participated in the organization of the Eucharistic World Congress in Budapest; later, he served as a pastor in Košice, Satu Mare, and Pécs. Between 1947 and 1949, he served in the leadership of the Hungarian Jesuit Province as the provincial’s deputy.
Fleeing communist persecution of the Church and anticipated arrests, he fled to the West in 1949. He served in Innsbruck, Feldkirch, and then in Canada, primarily in the Hungarian Catholic communities of Hamilton and Guelph. Later, he lived in Gräfelfing, West Germany, and then served again as a pastor in Hamilton.
In addition to his deep piety, he was known for his awareness of his illness and his reserved nature. He accepted his terminal illness with calmness and bore his fate with a Christian spirit. He passed away on April 8, 1984, in Hamilton.
Domestic service locations
From
To
Place i
Current name, country i
Church / institution
Position
1938
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary
Hungary
He helped organize the World Eucharistic Congress
1939
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary
Hungary
Manréza
probation
1940
1943
Kassa, Kingdom of Hungary
Košice, Slovakia
pastor
1943
1947
Szatmárnémeti, Kingdom of Hungary
Satu Mare, Romania
1943
1947
Pécs, Kingdom of Hungary
Hungary
1947
1949
Budapest, Hungary
Jezsuita Tartományfőnökség
the provincial superior’s deputy
Foreign service locations
From
To
Place
Current name, country
Church / institution
Position
1949
1951
Innsburck, Austria
pastor, mentor to student members
1951
1953
Feldkirch, Austria
the deputy provincial superior, in charge of financial affairs
1953
1955
Hamilton, ON, Canada
Deputy Provincial Superior for International Affairs, Director of Financial Affairs, and then on sick leave
1955
1968
Guelph, ON, Canada
pastor
1968
1975
Gräfelfing, NSZK
Germany
1976
1984
Hamilton, ON, Canada
pastor
Literary activity
Az áldozat. Bp., 1930; Spanyol tűztenger. Bp., 1938; Loyolai Szent Ignác lelkigyakorlatos könyve. Bp., 1940, New York, 1976.
Hitter József SJ: 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=396 (accessed: 2026-07-07).
Last modified: May 11, 2026 12:49 |
Opened: 91 times
