Rev. Joseph Sabbas Rékasi, O. Praem.

August 28, 1921 – March 26, 2016

As seen in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Abbey Magazine (page 21)

Fr. Joseph Rékasi, O. Praem.
Fr. Joseph Rékasi, O. Praem.

Fr. Rékasi, a member of Gödöllő Abbey, Budapest, Hungary, residing at St. Norbert Abbey, was born on August 28, 1921, in Jaszbereny, Hungary. His home parish was in Jaszbereny.

In 1940 Fr. Rékasi graduated from Jozsef Nador Realgimnazium, Jaszbereny. He received degrees in philosophy, theology, and French, including a doctorate degree in French in 1960.

Fr. Rékasi was vested as a novice on August 15, 1940. He professed Simple Vows on September 9, 1941, professed Solemn Vows on September 9, 1945, and was ordained to the priesthood on March 25, 1946.

He began his teaching assignments at St. Norbert College, De Pere, in 1953 as an associate professor of French and Latin. He had numerous assignments at the University of Detroit as an associate professor of French. After retirement, he continued various ministries at Old St. Joseph Church and St. Joseph Priory.

Fr. Rékasi will be remembered for his love of the language and culture of France, and without a doubt the city of Paris. He loved to converse about his travels, his remarkable early life, and escape from Hungary due to political unrest. He enjoyed showing his collection of personal pictures, carefully organized and identified.

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