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

Rácz József

← → PDF export

Deceased

Birth data:: November 9, 1868
Death data:: Canada, currently Bow Island, AB — 1969 circa
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: diocesan
Diocese / Order:: Gyulafehérvár

Ordination level:: priest
Priestly ordination:: June 29, 1912
Other name used:: Rátz; János

Biographical data

There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding his biographical details. According to Máté, János Rácz served in Canada in the 1930s, but he also mentions a József Rácz, and another source mentions Péter Rácz, who had previously served in many places. It is possible that these two individuals are one and the same, but this cannot be proven.
In 1937, he founded a Saturday Hungarian school in Winnipeg. According to Miklósházy’s records, he served in both the United States and Canada. According to Máté’s records, he returned to Hungary in 1922 and passed away in 1923. Based on the Gyulafehérvár register, he was ordained a priest on June 29, 1912.

Notes

According to Máté, his places of service were:
1930–1931 Montreal, QC, Canada
1938–1940 Toledo, OH, USA

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place i	Current name, country i	Position
1912	1914	Sepsiszentgyörgy, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy	Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania	assistant pastor
1914		Bereck, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy	Brețcu, Romania	assistant pastor
1915		Székelyudvarhely, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy	Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania	assistant pastor

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Current name, country	Church / institution	Position
1915	1920	Cleveland, OH, USA
1922		Árpádhon, LA, USA	Albany, LA	Szent Margit R. K. Egyházközség	Hungarian settlement mission
1923 circa	1928 circa	Stockholm, SK, Canada			Szent József-telep and Magyarnev – Hungarian Missionary Pastor
1928	1932	Montréal, QC, Canada		Magyarok Nagyasszonya templom	parish priest
1932	1933	Calgary, AB, Canada			the first pastor of the Hungarian Catholic community
1937 circa		Winnipeg, MB, Canada			found a Hungarian school
1938	1940	Toledo, OH, USA

Life timeline

Birth

November 9, 1868

Priestly ordination

June 29, 1912

Service in the homeland

1912 – 1914

Sepsiszentgyörgy, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania

assistant pastor

Service in the homeland

1914

Bereck, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Brețcu, Romania

assistant pastor

Service abroad

1915 – 1920

Cleveland, OH, USA

Service in the homeland

1915

Székelyudvarhely, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania

assistant pastor

Service abroad

1922

Árpádhon, LA, USA, currently Albany, LA

Szent Margit R. K. Egyházközség

Hungarian settlement mission

Service abroad

1923 – 1928

Stockholm, SK, Canada

Szent József-telep and Magyarnev – Hungarian Missionary Pastor

Service abroad

1928 – 1932

Montréal, QC, Canada

Magyarok Nagyasszonya templom

parish priest

Service abroad

1932 – 1933

Calgary, AB, Canada

the first pastor of the Hungarian Catholic community

Service abroad

1937

Winnipeg, MB, Canada

found a Hungarian school

Service abroad

1938 – 1940

Toledo, OH, USA

Death

1969

Canada, currently Bow Island, AB

Sources

Miklósházy:2001;
Gyulafehérvár: 380.;
Máté: 217.;
Rúzsa: 60.;
Török: 115, 179, 291, 349, 382.;
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/37433823/✓

Images

Click an image to enlarge. Navigation: ← →, close: Esc.

Places related to this person on the map

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

Similar and related clergy

Citation for this entry

Rácz József: 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=920 (accessed: 2026-09-13).

Last modified: July 23, 2026 11:59 | Opened: 7 times