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

Kováts Kálmán (OFM)

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Deceased

Birth data:: Debrecen-Hajdúkerület, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Debrecen, Hungary — January 19, 1863
According to another source: Téglás, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
Death data:: McKeesport, PA, USA — March 27, 1927
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: diocesan
previously: religious
Diocese / Order:: ferences (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) (1888-ig) → Kassa

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: ismeretlen
First (temporary) vows:: ismeretlen
Perpetual vows:: ismeretlen
Priestly ordination:: Vác, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary — July 13, 1886
Place of burial:: Sisters of the Divine Redeemer Cemetery
Elizabeth, NJ, Hungary
Other name used:: Kovács

Biographical data

He graduated from high school in Debrecen and then completed his theological studies in Subotica. On July 13, 1886, he was ordained a priest as a Franciscan friar in Vác. In 1888, he left the order and became a diocesan priest in Košice. In 1899, he arrived in the United States at the invitation of Károly Böhm. In 1912, members of the Daughters of the Divine Savior religious order arrived at his invitation to educate Hungarian children. In 1925, he received the Red Cross Medal of Merit for his charitable work on behalf of the Hungarian community. The cause of his death was heart failure. According to records, he was a sudden, impetuous man.

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place i	Current name, country i	Church / institution	Position
	1899 before	Kassa, Hungary			religion teacher

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Current name, country	Church / institution	Position
1899	1927	McKeesport, PA, USA		Szent István R. K. Egyházközség	parish priest

Literary activity

1899: Abaúj-Kassai Közlöny társszerkesztő 1899 – 1905: Magyarok Csillaga (Mckeesport), szerkesztő 1907 – 1911: Magyar Zászló, szerkesztő 1912 – 1923: Magyar Katolikus Zászló, szerkesztő

Life timeline

Birth

January 19, 1863

Debrecen-Hajdúkerület, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Debrecen, Hungary

Priestly ordination

July 13, 1886

Vác, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary

Service abroad

1899 – 1927

McKeesport, PA, USA

Szent István R. K. Egyházközség

parish priest

Death

March 27, 1927

McKeesport, PA, USA

Sources

Máté: 212.;
Kassa1904: 767.;
Káldor: 240.;
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146516238/kalman-kovats✕
http://abandonedonline.net/locations/churches/st-stephen-roman-catholic-magyar-church/✓
MKL: Kováts;
Török: 174, 208.;

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● birth ● priestly ordination ● domestic service ● foreign service ● death ● burial

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Citation for this entry

Kováts Kálmán (OFM): 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=590 (accessed: 2026-07-07).

Last modified: June 23, 2026 12:31 | Opened: 75 times