József-Csaba Pál
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend József-Csaba Pál | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Timișoara | |
| Pál in episcopal vestments
Pál in episcopal vestments
| |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Timișoara |
| Appointed | 16 May 2018 |
| Installed | 6 August 2018 |
| Predecessor | Martin Roos |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 21 June 1981 by Antal Jakab |
| Consecration | 6 August 2018 by Martin Roos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | József-Csaba Pál December 1955 (age 70) Harghita County, Romania |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | Alba Iulia Theological Studium |
| Motto | Serva eos in nomine tuo |
József-Csaba Pál (born 1955) is a Romanian Roman Catholic bishop who has served as Bishop of Timișoara since 2018.
Early life and education
Sources differ on Pál's exact date and place of birth. The Holy See Press Office states that he was born on 5 December 1955 in Frumoasa (Csíkszépvíz), while the Hungarian Catholic news agency Magyar Kurír, citing the Diocese of Timișoara, gives 3 December 1955 in Șoimeni-Ciuc (Csíkcsomortán), Harghita County.[1][2]
He attended the minor seminary in Alba Iulia from 1972 to 1974. After completing military service in 1974–1975, he entered the major seminary and completed his theological studies at the Alba Iulia Theological Studium.[1]
In a 2019 interview, Pál recalled that while at school he regularly visited the Csíksomlyó shrine, where the example of a Franciscan friar influenced his consideration of the priesthood. He also described a sermon he heard in sixth grade and periods of private prayer as influences on his religious vocation.[3]
Priestly ministry
Pál was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia on 21 June 1981 by Bishop Antal Jakab. He subsequently served for four years as parochial vicar of the Parish of Saint John the Baptist in Târgu Mureș.[1]
In 1985, he was sent to the Diocese of Timișoara as a Fidei donum priest to replace several priests of German origin who had returned to Germany. He was responsible for the Buziaș-Bacova parish from 1985 to 1987, after which he became parish priest of Saint Mary of the Snows Church in Reșița.[1] He remained parish priest there until his appointment as bishop in 2018.[2]
Pál later became dean and then archdeacon of the Banat Highlands. Since 1994, he has served as the responsible editor of the diocesan periodical Vita Catholica Banatus.[2]
In 2000, Pál was incardinated into the Diocese of Timișoara and appointed an archdeacon. He also became a member of the diocesan college of consultors and presbyteral council. In 2002, he was appointed an honorary canon of Timișoara Cathedral.[1]
Bishop of Timișoara
On 16 May 2018, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Martin Roos and appointed Pál as Bishop of Timișoara.[1]
Pál was consecrated and installed on 6 August 2018 at St. George Cathedral, Timișoara. Roos was the principal consecrator, with Ioan Robu, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Bucharest, and György Jakubinyi, Archbishop of Alba Iulia, serving as co-consecrators.[4]
The date was chosen because 6 August is the Feast of the Transfiguration and also marked the anniversary of the laying of the cathedral's foundation stone on 6 August 1736. Around forty Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed and Orthodox bishops and nearly two hundred clergy attended the ceremony, along with representatives of the Romanian and Hungarian governments.[4]
Pál chose the episcopal motto Serva eos in nomine tuo ("Keep them in your name"), from John 17:11. His coat of arms includes seven flames, which he said symbolise both the Holy Spirit and the seven languages used within the Diocese of Timișoara.[4]
Works
- Pál, József Csaba (2013). Senkinek sincsen nagyobb szeretete... Orbán László élete és vallomások (in Hungarian). Cluj-Napoca: Verbum. ISBN 9786068059853.[5]
Honours
- Honorary citizen of Caraș-Severin County (2010), awarded by the Caraș-Severin County Council for his contribution to spiritual life and ecumenism in Reșița.[2]
- Commander's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2021), awarded for his pastoral leadership in support of the Hungarian community of the Banat, peaceful coexistence among the region's nationalities, and cooperation between Christian denominations.[6][7]
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 Back to citation occurrence 1.4 Back to citation occurrence 1.5 "Resignations and Appointments, 16.05.2018". Holy See Press Office. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 "Új püspököt nevezett ki a pápa a temesvári egyházmegye élére" [The Pope appoints a new bishop to head the Diocese of Timișoara]. Magyar Kurír (in Hungarian). 16 May 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- Back to citation "Pál József Csaba – "A jó út az, amikor másokért élek"" [Pál József Csaba – "The right path is when I live for others"] (in Hungarian). Temesváros. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 Back to citation occurrence 4.2 "Püspökké szentelték és hivatalába iktatták Pál József Csabát Temesváron" [Pál József Csaba consecrated and installed as bishop in Timișoara]. Magyar Kurír (in Hungarian). 6 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- Back to citation "Orbán László egyetemi lelkészre emlékeztek Kolozsváron" [University chaplain László Orbán remembered in Cluj-Napoca]. Magyar Kurír (in Hungarian). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- Back to citation "Egyházi személyeket tüntettek ki nemzeti ünnepünk alkalmából" [Church figures decorated on the occasion of Hungary's national holiday]. Magyar Kurír (in Hungarian). 19 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
- Back to citation "Magyar állami kitüntetést kapott Pál József Csaba püspök" [Bishop Pál József Csaba receives Hungarian state decoration] (in Hungarian). RomKat.ro. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
External links
"Bishop/bpalj". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney.