His parents were István Kimecz, a parade coachman, and Gizella Pocsai. He completed his high school studies at the Fráter György High School in Miskolc. He earned a teaching degree from the Eger Teacher Training College, but was soon drafted into the army. In Germany, he was first taken prisoner by the French and then by the Americans. After his release, he entered the order on August 29, 1948. He took his first vows on August 30, 1949. On September 5, 1950, he fled to the West along with several of his fellow brothers. He took his perpetual vows on June 23, 1953. He began his theological studies in Zirc and completed them at the Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo in Rome. He was ordained a priest on August 30, 1953, by Bishop Roman R. Atkielski, C.P., administrator sede vacante, in Spirit Bank, WI, USA. He pursued further studies at Marquette University (Milwaukee); Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico (Ponce); and Southern Methodist University (Dallas).