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

Marosszéki Zsolt Rudolf O.Cist, Dr.

Marosszéki Zsolt Rudolf O.Cist, Dr.
Deceased
Birth data:
Körmend, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary — February 21, 1922
Death data:
Dallas, TX, USA — February 6, 2016
Denomination:
Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
religious
Diocese / Order:
ciszterciek (Ordo Cisterciensis)
Ordination level:
priest
Entry into religious life:
August 29, 1940
First (temporary) vows:
August 30, 1941
Perpetual vows:
December 22, 1944
Priestly ordination:
May 8, 1945
Place of burial:
apátság kriptája
Dallas, TX, USA
Other name used:
Ralph March
Biographical data
His parents were József Marosszéki (Maitz), a railroad worker, and Ágnes Preininger. His brother is Zoltán Marosszéki, OFM. The family changed its surname to “Marosszéki” with permission No. 59.688/1933 from the Ministry of the Interior.
He began his studies at the elementary school in Siklós, then from the fourth grade onward attended the Nagy Lajos Cistercian High School in Pécs, and finally graduated from the Szent Imre Cistercian High School in Budapest.
He entered the order on August 29, 1940. He took his first vows on August 30, 1941, and his perpetual vows on December 22, 1944. He completed his theological studies in Zirc, and between 1943 and 1944 he studied in Freiburg. On May 8, 1945, he was ordained a priest by Bishop József Mindszenty of Veszprém. In 1947, he was sent abroad to continue his studies, from which he did not return. He earned his doctorate in Paris in 1951.
From 1979 to 1986, he was a professor of music history at the Robert Schumann Staatliche Musikhochschule in Düsseldorf, and from 1989 to 1994, at the University of Innsbruck.
During his stay in the United States, he used the name Ralph March.
His grave is located in the mausoleum of the Order in Dallas, TX, USA.
Domestic service locations
From To Place i Current name, country i Church / institution Position
1945 1947 Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary Hungary Pázmány Péter Tudományegyetem Hittudományi Kar Basic French-Hungarian exam, concurrently with studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Foreign service locations
From To Place Current name, country Church / institution Position
1947 Svájc
1947 1952 Párizs, France Institut Catholique and Université Sorbonne — voice teacher at the Central Seminary in Paris
1952 1953 Spring Bank, WI, USA choir director and professor of theology
1953 1956 Milwaukee, WI, USA Marquette University university professor, head of household, 1954–1956
1956 1976 Dallas, TX, USA University of Dallas, then the University of Plano—university professor; he also taught at a high school from 1963 to 1964 and from 1965 to 1966
1977 1987 Köln, NSZK Germany The choirmaster of Cologne Cathedral
1987 2000 Landsberg am Lech, NSZK Germany
2001 2016 Dallas, TX, USA retired
Literary activity
Allelúja. Pascha nostrum. In. Nova Clara Vallis 2 (1943/3. sz.), 3–8.
Énekeljünk korálist! In. Papi Lelkiség 2 (1943), 173–175.
Les origines du chant cistercien: recherches sur les réformes du plain-chant cistercien au XIIe siècle. Róma, 1952.
Are You a True Minister of Music? In. Sacred Music 99 (1972), 3–13.
Dom Joseph Pothier OSB. In. Sacred Music 100 (1973), 8–12.
1966-1974 között a Sacred Music című egyházzenei folyóirat kiadója volt.
Life timeline
Birth
Körmend, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary
Entry into religious life
First (temporary) vows
Perpetual vows
Priestly ordination
Service in the homeland
19451947
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Hungary
Pázmány Péter Tudományegyetem Hittudományi Kar
Basic French-Hungarian exam, concurrently with studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Service abroad
Svájc
Service abroad
19471952
Párizs, France
Institut Catholique and Université Sorbonne — voice teacher at the Central Seminary in Paris
Service abroad
19521953
Spring Bank, WI, USA
choir director and professor of theology
Service abroad
19531956
Milwaukee, WI, USA
Marquette University
university professor, head of household, 1954–1956
Service abroad
19561976
Dallas, TX, USA
University of Dallas, then the University of Plano—university professor; he also taught at a high school from 1963 to 1964 and from 1965 to 1966
Service abroad
19771987
Köln, NSZK, currently Germany
The choirmaster of Cologne Cathedral
Service abroad
19872000
Landsberg am Lech, NSZK, currently Germany
Service abroad
20012016
Dallas, TX, USA
retired
Death
Dallas, TX, USA
Sources
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Citation for this entry
Marosszéki Zsolt Rudolf O.Cist, 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=699 (accessed: 2026-07-07).
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