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

Barát Ferenc Benignusz OSB

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Deceased

Birth data:: Komárom, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary — April 24, 1916
Death data:: San Mateo, CA, USA — June 29, 1990
According to another source: Woodside, CA, USA
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: religious
Diocese / Order:: bencés (Ordo Sancti Benedicti)

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: August 6, 1934
Perpetual vows:: August 15, 1938
Priestly ordination:: June 18, 1939
Place of burial:: Saint Leanders Cemetery
Manchester, NH, USA
Other name used:: Baráth, Riszdorfer

Biographical data

He donned the habit of the Benedictine Order on August 6, 1934, and took his solemn vows on August 15, 1938. He was ordained a priest on June 18, 1939. On May 8, 1948, he left the country together with Kristóf Hites, OSB. There is uncertainty regarding his whereabouts between 1949 and 1958; according to Ádám Somorjai OSB, he was in Canada during this time. He received U.S. citizenship on February 17, 1959.

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place i	Current name, country i	Church / institution	Position
1939	1940	Győrszentiván, Kingdom of Hungary	Győr, Hungary		religious educator
1940	1942	Győrszentmárton, Kingdom of Hungary	Pannonhalma, Hungary	A Boldogasszony-kápolna őre
1942	1944				camp chaplain
1942	1949	Komárom, Kingdom of Hungary	Komárno, Hungary		high school teacher

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Church / institution	Position
1949	1958	Portola Valley, CA, USA		(According to KMVÉ, between 1960 and 1989)
1958	1976	Woodside, CA, USA	Szent István perjelség	visiting priest, choir director, Latin teacher, director of music and choir
1976	1990	Woodside, CA, USA	Szent Anzelm perjelség

Life timeline

Birth

April 24, 1916

Komárom, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Hungary

Entry into religious life

August 6, 1934

Perpetual vows

August 15, 1938

Priestly ordination

June 18, 1939

Service in the homeland

1939 – 1940

Győrszentiván, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Győr, Hungary

religious educator

Service in the homeland

1940 – 1942

Győrszentmárton, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Pannonhalma, Hungary

A Boldogasszony-kápolna őre

Service in the homeland

1942 – 1949

Komárom, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Komárno, Hungary

high school teacher

Service in the homeland

1942 – 1944

camp chaplain

Service abroad

1949 – 1958

Portola Valley, CA, USA

(According to KMVÉ, between 1960 and 1989)

Service abroad

1958 – 1976

Woodside, CA, USA

Szent István perjelség

visiting priest, choir director, Latin teacher, director of music and choir

Service abroad

1976 – 1990

Woodside, CA, USA

Szent Anzelm perjelség

Death

June 29, 1990

San Mateo, CA, USA

Sources

Bencés: 206.
https://www.magyarkurir.hu/megszentelt-elet/60-eves-magyar-bencesek-alapitasa-kaliforniaban✓
Jávor Egon OSB: 50 éves a magyar bencések alapítása, Woodside Perjelsége Kaliforniában, in. MEV 19., 216.
Somorjai, 221.
https://real.mtak.hu/199317/1/Aldemar_WEB.pdf✓
https://www.myheritage.hu/research/collection-10695/us-naturalization-records-northern-california-1852-1989?itemId=32860-&action=showRecord&recordTitle=Benignus+Francis+Barat+%28Riszdorfer%29✓

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

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Citation for this entry

Barát Ferenc Benignusz OSB: 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=43 (accessed: 2026-07-07).

Last modified: April 23, 2026 23:40 | Opened: 82 times