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

Györffy Albert Géza

Györffy Albert Géza
Deceased
Birth data:
August 11, 1894
Death data:
Fort Wayne, IN, USA — October 7, 1971
Denomination:
Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
diocesan
Diocese / Order:
Rozsnyó
Ordination level:
priest
Priestly ordination:
May 16, 1918
Place of burial:
Sacred Heart Cemetery
South Bend, IN, USA
Other name used:
Győrfy, Gyürfy
Biographical data
Albert Géza Győrfy (1894–1971), a Roman Catholic priest, was a leading figure in the Hungarian pastoral ministry in the United States. He was born on August 11, 1894, and was ordained a priest on May 16, 1918. He became a significant witness to and servant of the spiritual care of the first generation of Hungarian immigrants in America.

By December 21, 1921, he was already serving at the Our Lady of Hungarians Parish in South Bend. He served there for nearly a decade and a half, until February 1, 1935. He then became pastor of the Hungarian St. Imre Parish in Gary, Indiana, where he continued his priestly ministry for another twenty years.

A deep devotion to Mary characterized his entire life. He actively supported the Hungarian Fatima Calvary Movement and was later elected its president. He was a well-known figure in the religious and community life of Hungarian Americans, who considered the preservation of Hungarian Catholic identity in exile to be particularly important.

From 1955 until his death, he lived in seclusion in the city of Fort Wayne. Due to serious illness, in the final years of his life he was able to celebrate Mass only in the large room of his own home. Despite prolonged bouts of coughing and choking, he retained his spiritual strength and cheerfulness. He enjoyed talking about the history and experiences of the Hungarian communities in America, but he was no longer able to put his memories into writing.

He passed away on October 7, 1971, on the Feast of the Queen of the Rosary. His funeral was held on October 11 at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in South Bend, his first place of ministry in the United States. He dedicated his life to serving the Hungarian Catholic communities in the United States.
Foreign service locations
From To Place Current name, country Church / institution Position
1920 Toledo, OH, USA assistant pastor
1921 1935 South Bend, IN, USA parish priest (the builder of the first church)
1935 1955 Gary, IN, USA parish priest
1956 1959 South Bend, IN, USA parish priest
1960 1971 Fort Wayne, IN, USA on sick leave
Life timeline
Priestly ordination
Service abroad
Toledo, OH, USA
assistant pastor
Service abroad
19211935
South Bend, IN, USA
parish priest (the builder of the first church)
Service abroad
19351955
Gary, IN, USA
parish priest
Service abroad
19561959
South Bend, IN, USA
parish priest
Service abroad
19601971
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
on sick leave
Death
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
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Citation for this entry
Györffy Albert Géza: 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=354 (accessed: 2026-07-07).
Last modified: May 27, 2026 11:58 | Opened: 78 times