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

Kilián János Csaba OFM, Dr

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Deceased

Birth data:: Ludány, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Ludányhalászi, Hungary — October 26, 1916
Death data:: Mt. Vernon, NY, USA — December 1, 2000
According to another source: Bronxville, NY, USA
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: religious
Diocese / Order:: ferences (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) (Kapisztrán kusztódia)

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: August 29, 1935
Perpetual vows:: May 3, 1941
Priestly ordination:: June 13, 1943
Other name used:: Fr. Sabbas J. Kilián OFM

Biographical data

He entered the Franciscan Order on August 29, 1935. He took his final vows on May 3, 1941. He was ordained a priest on June 13, 1943. He earned his doctorate at Pázmány Péter University in 1947 and at the University of Fribourg in 1950. He lived in Switzerland from 1948 to 1951, then emigrated to the United States.

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place i	Current name, country i	Church / institution	Position
1944	1947	Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary	Hungary		Professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Sisters of St. Orsola’s Teacher Training College

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Church / institution	Position
1948	1951	Fribourg, Svájc		pastor, pursuing studies
1953		Roebling, NJ, USA	Nagyboldogasszony R. K. Egyházközség	pastor
1953	1958	New York, NY, USA	Szent István R. K. Egyházközség	Guest Announcer for Voice of America Radio
1959	1962	New York, NY, USA	University of St. Bonaventure	Professor of Medieval and Modern Philosophy
1962	1998	New York, NY, USA	Fordham University	Professor of Theology and pastor in Mount Vernon, NY, USA
1998	2000	Mt. Vernon, NY, USA	St. Ursula Church	retired

Literary activity

Krisztus Kir. tisztelete. Gyöngyös, 1944. (A M. Kat. Néprajz kiadv. A. sorozat: Kultuszfüzetek) - Istenért, Egyházért, Hazáért. A „Hit szava” rádióprogram elmélkedései. New York, 1953-54; Cleveland, 1954. - A kommunizmus örvényében. A „Hit szava” rádióprogram beszédei. New York, 1954-55; Trenton, 1955. - A Katolikus Magyarok Vasárnapja munk., 1944: az Egység Útja segédszerk-je.

Life timeline

Birth

October 26, 1916

Ludány, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Ludányhalászi, Hungary

Entry into religious life

August 29, 1935

Perpetual vows

May 3, 1941

Priestly ordination

June 13, 1943

Service in the homeland

1944 – 1947

Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary

Professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Sisters of St. Orsola’s Teacher Training College

Service abroad

1948 – 1951

Fribourg, Svájc

pastor, pursuing studies

Service abroad

1953

Roebling, NJ, USA

Nagyboldogasszony R. K. Egyházközség

pastor

Service abroad

1953 – 1958

New York, NY, USA

Szent István R. K. Egyházközség

Guest Announcer for Voice of America Radio

Service abroad

1959 – 1962

New York, NY, USA

University of St. Bonaventure

Professor of Medieval and Modern Philosophy

Service abroad

1962 – 1998

New York, NY, USA

Fordham University

Professor of Theology and pastor in Mount Vernon, NY, USA

Service abroad

1998 – 2000

Mt. Vernon, NY, USA

St. Ursula Church

retired

Death

December 1, 2000

Mt. Vernon, NY, USA

Sources

OFM-K-1994;
Török: 408.;
KMVÉ: 1952-1989.;
MKL: Kilián;
Szabad Magyarság, 1957-01-03., pp. 6.;
ABTL: HU - ÁBTL - I. - 2.2.1. - IV/1 Külföldön élő személyek kartonjai, 1418-1420.;
http://obits.lohud.com/obituaries/lohud/obituary.aspx?n=sabbas-j-kilian&pid=148824624✕

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Citation for this entry

Kilián János Csaba OFM, Dr: 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=531 (accessed: 2026-07-07).

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