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

Bérczi László Bernát O.Cist, apát

Bérczi László Bernát O.Cist, apát
Left ministry
Birth data:
Pécs, Hungary — June 26, 1979
Denomination:
Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
religious
Diocese / Order:
ciszterciek (Ordo Cisterciensis)
Ordination level:
priest
Entry into religious life:
Zirc, Hungary — 2001
Perpetual vows:
Zirc, Hungary — August 18, 2007
Priestly ordination:
Zirc, Hungary — June 28, 2008
Biographical data
He completed his high school studies at the Cistercian Order’s Nagy Lajos High School in Pécs. He graduated in 1997 and then earned a degree in computer engineering from the Mihály Pollack Faculty of Engineering at the University of Pécs.
He entered the order in 2001. He completed his theological studies at the Veszprém College of Theology, while simultaneously earning a degree in computer science education from the Pollack Mihály College of Engineering.
He made his solemn vows on August 18, 2007, and was ordained a priest on June 28, 2008. On June 13, 2018, the Zirc community elected him abbot. His solemn benediction took place on September 15, 2018.
On May 15, 2023, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life appointed Abbot General Mauro Giuseppe Lepori as papal commissioner for the Zirc Abbey. He was suspended from his duties as abbot and parish priest with immediate effect and assigned to the Abbey of Dallas due to financial irregularities at the Zirc Abbey and the schools maintained by the Order, where he spent about three months, before returning home and requesting approval to leave the order and be laicized in 2024. Pope Francis approved this in 2024 and granted him lay status.
According to some sources, he is currently (in 2025) in Canada; according to others, he is in Budapest.
Domestic service locations
From To Place Country Church / institution Position
2009 2012 Zirc Hungary Zirci Ciszterci Apátság Director of a nursing home, Assistant Director, Grants Coordinator, Deputy Director; Director General of Education since June 2011
2012 2017 Pécs Hungary Nagy Lajos Gimnázium Religious education and computer science teacher, pastor
2017 2018 Zirc Hungary Zirci Ciszterci Apátság slash
2018 2024 Zirc Hungary Zirci Ciszterci Apátság abbot (suspended from his duties as abbot in 2023)
Foreign service locations
From To Place Country Church / institution Position
2024 Dallas, TX USA Cistercian Abbey Our Lady of Dallas designated place of residence, pastor (who conducts the monthly Hungarian Masses)
Literary activity
The ruins and reconstruction of the medieval Cistercian Abbey of Zirc, in: Architektus Nr. 2 (24), 2008, S. 5–17.
Life timeline
Birth
Pécs, Hungary
Entry into religious life
Zirc, Hungary
Perpetual vows
Zirc, Hungary
Priestly ordination
Zirc, Hungary
Service in the homeland
20092012
Zirc, Hungary
Zirci Ciszterci Apátság
Director of a nursing home, Assistant Director, Grants Coordinator, Deputy Director; Director General of Education since June 2011
Service in the homeland
20122017
Pécs, Hungary
Nagy Lajos Gimnázium
Religious education and computer science teacher, pastor
Service in the homeland
20172018
Zirc, Hungary
Zirci Ciszterci Apátság
slash
Service in the homeland
20182024
Zirc, Hungary
Zirci Ciszterci Apátság
abbot (suspended from his duties as abbot in 2023)
Service abroad
Dallas, TX, USA
Cistercian Abbey Our Lady of Dallas
designated place of residence, pastor (who conducts the monthly Hungarian Masses)
Sources
Images
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Citation for this entry
Bérczi László Bernát O.Cist, apát: 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=79 (accessed: 2026-04-05).