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

Kerner István, Msgr., Dr.

Kerner István, Msgr., Dr.
Deceased
Birth data:
Nagymajtény, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Moftinu Mare, Romania — August 1, 1889
Death data:
San Diego, CA, USA — April 18, 1960
Denomination:
Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
diocesan
Diocese / Order:
Kalocsa-Kecskemét (korábban Kalocsa, Kalocsa-Bács)
Ordination level:
priest
Priestly ordination:
Róma, Italy — August 15, 1914
Place of burial:
Holy Cross Cemetery
San Diego, CA, USA
Biographical data
He graduated from high school in Kalocsa and then studied theology in Rome as a student at the CHG. He was ordained a priest in Rome on August 15, 1914. He earned doctorates in philosophy and theology. He was an honorary doctor of the Royal Pázmány Péter University in Budapest. February 10, 1926: papal chamberlain; August 31, 1939: honorary canon; April 27, 1946: subdean of Bács; August 22, 1947: guardian canon. In 1946, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison for anti-people crimes; he appealed the sentence and then left the country in 1948.
Domestic service locations
From To Place i Current name, country i Church / institution Position
1915 1916 Bácskertes, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy Kupusina (Купусина), Serbia assistant pastor, then religious education teacher
1916 1918 Szabadka, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy Subotica (Суботица), Serbia religious educator
1918 1928 Kalocsa, Kingdom of Hungary Hungary Professor of philosophy and dogmatic theology at the major seminary; from 1919, spiritual director, synodal examiner, and member of the committee examining religion teachers at the archdiocesan secondary schools. From 1920, defender of the bond of marriage; from 1922, synodal judge
1928 1939 Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary Hungary Központi Szeminárium spiritual
1939 1947 Kalocsa, Kingdom of Hungary Hungary rector of the seminary; archdiocesan censor from 1940
Foreign service locations
From To Place Current name, country Church / institution Position
1948 1959 Austria pastor
1959 1960 San Diego, CA, USA seminary retreat
Literary activity
Kalocsai Néplap, 1927. IV. 2-VIII. 31: és 1939. XI. 11-1944. X. 14 szerkesztő
Life timeline
Birth
Nagymajtény, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Moftinu Mare, Romania
Priestly ordination
Róma, Italy
Service in the homeland
1915 – 1916
Bácskertes, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Kupusina (Купусина), Serbia
assistant pastor, then religious education teacher
Service in the homeland
1916 – 1918
Szabadka, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Subotica (Суботица), Serbia
religious educator
Service in the homeland
1918 – 1928
Kalocsa, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary
Professor of philosophy and dogmatic theology at the major seminary; from 1919, spiritual director, synodal examiner, and member of the committee examining religion teachers at the archdiocesan secondary schools. From 1920, defender of the bond of marriage; from 1922, synodal judge
Service in the homeland
1928 – 1939
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary
Központi Szeminárium
spiritual
Service in the homeland
1939 – 1947
Kalocsa, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary
rector of the seminary; archdiocesan censor from 1940
Service abroad
1948 – 1959
Austria
pastor
Service abroad
1959 – 1960
San Diego, CA, USA
seminary retreat
Death
San Diego, CA, USA
Sources
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● birth ● priestly ordination ● domestic service ● foreign service ● death ● burial
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Citation for this entry
Kerner István, Msgr., Dr.: 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=527 (accessed: 2026-10-30).
Last modified: June 2, 2026 21:13 | Opened: 42 times