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

Hegyi József Péter OFM

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Deceased

Birth data:: Udvarhelyszentlélek, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Bisericani, Romania — June 23, 1907
Death data:: Portage, PA, USA — June 29, 1967
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: religious
Diocese / Order:: ferences (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) (Szent István Kusztódia)

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: September 12, 1923
First (temporary) vows:: September 12, 1924
Perpetual vows:: July 27, 1929
Priestly ordination:: July 6, 1930
Place of burial:: Saint John the Baptist Cemetery
Portage, PA, USA

Biographical data

He entered the Franciscan Order on September 11, 1923. He completed his studies in philosophy in Csíksomlyó and his studies in theology in Vajdahunyad. He took his first vows on September 12, 1924. He took his solemn vows on July 27, 1929. He was ordained a priest on July 6, 1930. According to records from the Archives of the Franciscan Province of Transylvania, he lived in the United States from 1944 and, based on those records, from 1948 onward. In 1964, he was involved in a serious car accident, and his condition remained critical for weeks.

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place i	Current name, country i	Position
1931	1932	Vajdahunyad, Romania	Hunedoara	pastor, religious educator
1932	1933	Dés, Romania	Dej	pastor, religious educator, organist
1933	1934	Kaplony, Romania	Căpleni	pastor, religious educator
1934	1939	Szatmárnémeti, Romania	Satu Mare	Pastor and lay missionary from 1936 to 1943; director of the Holy Cross Army from 1936 to 1939
1939	1941			serving in an unknown location
1941	1943	Szamosújvár, Romania	Gherla	head of household
1943	1944	Dés, Romania	Dej	pastor, director of the Holy Cross Army
1944	1945	Nagyilonda, Romania	Ileanda	pastor
1945	1948	Mikháza, Romania	Călugăreni	pastor, catechist, organist (according to data from the Franciscan Province of Transylvania)

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Church / institution	Position
1944	1948	Portage, PA, USA		parish priest (according to other sources, he was still in Transylvania at that time)
1948	1961	Youngstown, OH, USA		parish priest who built the church
1961	1963	Barberton, OH, USA	Szentháromság R. K. Egyházközség	parish priest
1964	1967	Portage, PA, USA		parish priest

Life timeline

Birth

June 23, 1907

Udvarhelyszentlélek, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Bisericani, Romania

Entry into religious life

September 12, 1923

First (temporary) vows

September 12, 1924

Perpetual vows

July 27, 1929

Priestly ordination

July 6, 1930

Service in the homeland

1931 – 1932

Vajdahunyad, Romania, currently Hunedoara

pastor, religious educator

Service in the homeland

1932 – 1933

Dés, Romania, currently Dej

pastor, religious educator, organist

Service in the homeland

1933 – 1934

Kaplony, Romania, currently Căpleni

pastor, religious educator

Service in the homeland

1934 – 1939

Szatmárnémeti, Romania, currently Satu Mare

Pastor and lay missionary from 1936 to 1943; director of the Holy Cross Army from 1936 to 1939

Service in the homeland

1939 – 1941

serving in an unknown location

Service in the homeland

1941 – 1943

Szamosújvár, Romania, currently Gherla

head of household

Service in the homeland

1943 – 1944

Dés, Romania, currently Dej

pastor, director of the Holy Cross Army

Service abroad

1944 – 1948

Portage, PA, USA

parish priest (according to other sources, he was still in Transylvania at that time)

Service in the homeland

1944 – 1945

Nagyilonda, Romania, currently Ileanda

pastor

Service in the homeland

1945 – 1948

Mikháza, Romania, currently Călugăreni

pastor, catechist, organist (according to data from the Franciscan Province of Transylvania)

Service abroad

1948 – 1961

Youngstown, OH, USA

parish priest who built the church

Service abroad

1961 – 1963

Barberton, OH, USA

Szentháromság R. K. Egyházközség

parish priest

Service abroad

1964 – 1967

Portage, PA, USA

parish priest

Death

June 29, 1967

Portage, PA, USA

Sources

KMVÉ: 1949-1967.;
MLK: Hegyi,
Török: 258, 322.;
Erdélyi Ferences: 33.;
Balázs Andrea információi alapján;
https://www.oldnews.com/en/record?record_id=record-12012-450638046-&referred=mh_record_page✓
http://www.hungariancatholicmission.com/faith/churches/catholic-us/h_oh-ourladyofhungarychurch.pdf✓
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149253368/peter-hegyi✕
Az Erdélyi Ferences Rendtartomány Levéltárának szíves közlése alapján
A fénykép mesterséges inteligencia (chatgpt.com) módosítva lett.

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Citation for this entry

Hegyi József Péter 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=377 (accessed: 2026-07-06).

Last modified: June 23, 2026 15:35 | Opened: 79 times