Regeteruszka, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Ruskov, Slovakia — November 1, 1883
According to another source: December 5, 1882 — Sátoraljaújhely, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
Death data:
USA — 1948 after
Denomination:
Greek Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
diocesan
Diocese / Order:
Munkács (1924-ig) → Pittburgh, PA, USA
Ordination level:
priest
Priestly ordination:
Munkács, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, currently Mukacsevo (Мукачево), Ukraine — December 16, 1906
Other name used:
Kovalcsik, Smitson, Schmitson
Biographical data
His father was János Kovalcsik, and his mother was Erzsébet Gabry. His wife’s name was Anna Guthy, and they had four children. He pursued his theological studies in Košice and Uzhhorod. He was ordained a priest on December 16, 1906, by Bishop Gyula Firczák of Munkács. He arrived in the United States around 1911. The American Hungarian-language communist newspaper Előre constantly attacked him. According to records, he was an excellent orator. There is no information regarding the date of his death or the location of his grave.
Domestic service locations
From
To
Place i
Current name, country i
Church / institution
Position
1606
1907
Beregszász, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
Berehove (Берегове), Ukraine
assistant pastor, religious education teacher
1908
1911
Velejte, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
Veľaty, Slovakia
district pastor, chair of the school board
Foreign service locations
From
To
Place
Current name, country
Church / institution
Position
1911
1912
Homestead, PA, USA
1912
1914
Roebling, NJ, USA
founding pastor; according to other sources, Trenton, NJ
Kovalchik 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=576 (accessed: 2026-07-07).
Last modified: June 10, 2026 20:49 |
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