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

Free Antal SJ

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Deceased

Birth data:: Kőszeg, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary — November 10, 1823
Death data:: New Orleans, LA, USA — August 17, 1891
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: religious
Diocese / Order:: jezsuita (Societas Jesu)

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: August 6, 1840
Perpetual vows:: February 2, 1868
Priestly ordination:: 1858
Place of burial:: Spring Hill College Jesuit Cemetery
Mobile, AL, USA
Other name used:: Frech

Biographical data

He entered the order on August 6, 1840. He took his final vows on February 2, 1868. To the best of our knowledge, he was the first pastor of Hungarian descent to settle in the United States, although he likely did not participate in Hungarian pastoral work. He was ordained a priest in Spring Hill in 1858. This made him the first priest of Hungarian descent to be ordained in the United States. According to some sources, he resided in Lyon, France, between 1863 and 1880.

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Country	Church / institution	Position
1856	1863	Spring Hill, AL	USA		language teacher, supervisor of the boarding school
1881	1891	New Orleans, LA	USA		pastor

Life timeline

Birth

November 10, 1823

Kőszeg, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary

Entry into religious life

August 6, 1840

Service abroad

1856 – 1863

Spring Hill, AL, USA

language teacher, supervisor of the boarding school

Priestly ordination

1858

Perpetual vows

February 2, 1868

Service abroad

1881 – 1891

New Orleans, LA, USA

pastor

Death

August 17, 1891

New Orleans, LA, USA

Sources

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

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Citation for this entry

Free Antal 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=289 (accessed: 2026-05-06).