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

Bíró József Benedek OFM

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Deceased

Birth data:: Fogaras, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Romania — February 7, 1891
Death data:: Fairfield, CT, USA — January 17, 1952
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: religious
Diocese / Order:: ferences (Szent István Kusztódia)

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: September 6, 1905
Perpetual vows:: March 24, 1910
Priestly ordination:: August 10, 1912
Place of burial:: Saint Michaels Cemetery
Stratford, CO, USA

Biographical data

He entered the Franciscan Order on September 6, 1905. As a novice, he completed his high school studies in Székelyudvarhely, Marosvásárhely, and Szászváros. He earned his teaching degree in Kolozsvár. He studied philosophy in Medgyes and theology in Vajdahunyad between 1906 and 1912. During this time, he also studied in Munich. He took his final vows on March 24, 1910. He was ordained a priest on August 10, 1912. He emigrated to the United States in November 1928. He served as president of the American Hungarian Catholic Association.
He passed away suddenly.

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place	Country	Position
1913	1915	Szászváros	Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Romania	religious educator
1915	1919	Kolozsvár	Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Romania	preacher, deputy head of the household from 1917
1919	1928	Csíksomlyó	Romania	teacher, head of household from 1924

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Country	Position
1928	1930	Cleveland, OH	USA	v. Baberton, OH, USA
1930	1932	Bridgeport, CT	USA	assistant pastor
1932	1952	Fairfield, OH	USA	parish priest, including in Bridgeport, CT in 1945
1948	1952			Custos of the American Order of St. Stephen, founding father and first custodian of the Franciscan Custody.

Literary activity

Katolikus Magyarok Vasárnapja szerkesztőjeként számos cikk; Erdélyi Lapok – irodalmi és történészeti munkatárs; Kájoni Jánosról értekezés

Life timeline

Birth

February 7, 1891

Fogaras, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Romania

Entry into religious life

September 6, 1905

Perpetual vows

March 24, 1910

Priestly ordination

August 10, 1912

Service in the homeland

1913 – 1915

Szászváros, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Romania

religious educator

Service in the homeland

1915 – 1919

Kolozsvár, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Romania

preacher, deputy head of the household from 1917

Service in the homeland

1919 – 1928

Csíksomlyó, Romania

teacher, head of household from 1924

Service abroad

1928 – 1930

Cleveland, OH, USA

v. Baberton, OH, USA

Service abroad

1930 – 1932

Bridgeport, CT, USA

assistant pastor

Service abroad

1932 – 1952

Fairfield, OH, USA

parish priest, including in Bridgeport, CT in 1945

Service abroad

1948 – 1952

Custos of the American Order of St. Stephen, founding father and first custodian of the Franciscan Custody.

Death

January 17, 1952

Fairfield, CT, USA

Sources

Máté: 204.
Shvoy: 23, 36.
Török: 152, 400.
MKL: Bíró
Katolikus Szemle 4.
https://www.myheritage.hu/research/collection-12012/names-stories-in-newspapers-from-oldnewscom-delaware-maryland-virginia-west?itemId=937951499-&groupId=2fc083740957d019b21b5173f7b1fd29&action=showRecord&recordTitle=Benedict+Biro✓

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

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Citation for this entry

Bíró József Benedek 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=81 (accessed: 2026-04-05).