Vác, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary — August 19, 1903
Death data:
Hamilton, ON, Canada — November 27, 1987
Denomination:
Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
religious
Diocese / Order:
jezsuita
Ordination level:
priest
Entry into religious life:
Szeged, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary — August 13, 1921
Perpetual vows:
February 2, 1939
Priestly ordination:
Innsbruck, Austria — July 26, 1931
Place of burial:
St Ladislaus Cemetery
Norfolk County, ON, Canada
Biographical data
His parents were József János Borbély and Julianna Hiros; he had two siblings.
He completed his secondary education at the Piarist school in Vác. On August 13, 1921, he entered the order in Szeged, where he studied philosophy from 1924 to 1926 and theology in Innsbruck from 1929 to 1932. He was ordained a priest there on July 26, 1931.
He completed his tertianship in 1938 in Amiens, France. He took his final vows on February 2, 1939.
Between 1943 and 1948, he also served as provincial superior. On December 7, 1948, the communist police appeared at the Jesuit house in Budapest and thoroughly searched it. They found nothing, but he learned through friends that the police intended to arrest him shortly thereafter. Consequently, on December 9, 1948, he left Budapest and was forced into hiding, living illegally in various Jesuit houses across the country, constantly fleeing from the communists who were searching for him. He crossed the Austrian border illegally on the night of January 14, 1949, with the permission of the Superior General, after appointing his successor.
From 1949 to 1951, he taught philosophy in Chieri, and then emigrated to Canada in 1952.
In 1977, he suffered a stroke, which caused him to lose his ability to communicate.
Domestic service locations
From
To
Place i
Current name, country i
Church / institution
Position
1926
1928
Kalocsa, Kingdom of Hungary
Hungary
Latin and Hungarian teacher
1933
1938
Szeged, Kingdom of Hungary
Hungary
He served as the superior of the religious order’s students at the college and taught philosophy and theology at the diocesan seminary. Later, he became a professor of dogmatic theology, a preacher at the academy, and the leader of the Marian Congregation
1939
1943
Szeged, Kingdom of Hungary
Hungary
the college rector, professor of dogmatic theology, and advisor to the provincial superior
Az ősegyház. (Bangha Bélával közösen.)
A keresztény Egyház története I. Bp., 1937;
A nemzeti szocializmus katolikus szemmel. (Kézirat gyanánt.);
L’État des Défuntes jusqu’à la Resurrection de la Chair. H. n., é. n.;
A meg nem tépett köntös. Az egységes Egyház. Bp., 1939;
A hittitok és az értelem. Bp., 1943.
He served as the superior of the religious order’s students at the college and taught philosophy and theology at the diocesan seminary. Later, he became a professor of dogmatic theology, a preacher at the academy, and the leader of the Marian Congregation
Borbély István SJ: 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=104 (accessed: 2026-07-07).
Last modified: June 5, 2026 10:48 |
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