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

Héjja Gyula SJ, dr.

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Deceased

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Birth data:: Hódmezővásárhely, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary — April 12, 1923
Death data:: Szeged, Hungary — April 18, 1999
Denomination:: Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:: religious
Diocese / Order:: jezsuita (Societas Jesu)

Ordination level:: priest
Entry into religious life:: August 14, 1943
Perpetual vows:: Róma, Italy — August 15, 1960
Priestly ordination:: Róma, Italy — September 7, 1951
Place of burial:: Belvárosi temető
Szeged, Hungary

Biographical data

His mother’s name was Emília Móricz. He entered the order on August 14, 1943. From 1946 to 1948, he studied philosophy in Szeged. From 1949 to 1952, he studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest in Rome on September 7, 1951. He completed his third probationary year in Paray-Le-Monial, France. He took his final vows in Rome on August 15, 1960. He also earned his doctorate in theology there. He then worked at the order’s headquarters in Rome, where his responsibility was coordinating the Marian Congregations. From 1965 to 1968, he served as the superior general of the Hungarian Jesuits living abroad. He lived in the United States from 1966 until 1995, when he returned home and settled in Hódmezővásárhely.

Domestic service locations

From	To	Place i	Current name, country i	Church / institution	Position
1995	1999	Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary			pastor

Foreign service locations

From	To	Place	Current name, country	Church / institution	Position
1952	1966	Róma, Italy			at the central office, coordinator of the Marian Congregations
1966	1995	New York, NY, USA		Fordham University	teacher; from 1965 to 1968, he served as the superior general of the Hungarian Jesuits living abroad

Literary activity

Structura theologica vitae spiritualis Hieronymi Nadal S. J. (1507–1580). H. n., 1970.

Life timeline

Birth

April 12, 1923

Hódmezővásárhely, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary

Entry into religious life

August 14, 1943

Priestly ordination

September 7, 1951

Róma, Italy

Service abroad

1952 – 1966

Róma, Italy

at the central office, coordinator of the Marian Congregations

Perpetual vows

August 15, 1960

Róma, Italy

Service abroad

1966 – 1995

New York, NY, USA

Fordham University

teacher; from 1965 to 1968, he served as the superior general of the Hungarian Jesuits living abroad

Service in the homeland

1995 – 1999

Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary

pastor

Death

April 18, 1999

Szeged, Hungary

Sources

Bikfalvi: 88.;
Új Magyarország, 1996-01-31. pp. 12.;
ABTL: HU - ÁBTL - I. - 2.2.1. - IV/1 Külföldön élő személyek kartonjai, 1113-1115.;
https://leveltar.jezsuita.hu/hu/node/1770✓

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Citation for this entry

Héjja Gyula SJ, 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=391 (accessed: 2026-07-07).

Last modified: May 11, 2026 11:37 | Opened: 97 times