Szent István R. K. Egyházközség

St. Stephen’s Church in Allentown was established as the center of the Hungarian Catholic immigrant community that formed in the early 20th century. At first, the local Hungarians belonged to the Catholic parish in Bethlehem, but in 1913–1914 they began organizing their own parish. In 1916, the community purchased a plot of land and a house suitable for a parsonage on Union Street, and in 1917, under the leadership of Menyhért Erdújhelyi, construction of the church began; the cornerstone was laid on August 25, 1917. Parish priest László Nagy played a decisive role in the parish’s subsequent development; from 1925 onward, he organized religious life for decades, established associations and institutions, and prepared for the construction of the new church. The new church was consecrated on January 6, 1957, but in a tragic turn of events for the community, László Nagy passed away in the sanctuary during the consecration ceremony. The church remained one of the most important religious and community centers for Hungarian Catholics in Allentown; in 1974, Cardinal József Mindszenty also visited the local Hungarian community. In the 21st century, the Hungarian presence at the church gradually faded, and it became a regional center for the traditional Latin liturgy; starting in 2006, it became the primary venue for the Latin Mass, and in 2016, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter took over the leadership of the parish. In 2023, the parish merged into the Holy Ghost Parish community, but St. Stephen’s Church has retained its historical significance as an important memorial to Allentown’s Hungarian Catholic heritage.