Aristocrat, Bishop and Assistant to the Papal Throne.
The Desseffys from Csernek and Tarkeő were one of Hungary’s oldest noble families. His father, Antal Desseffy was the sub/prefect of Temes county (today Timiş County, Romania) and represented the county in the Parliament. Although he was born in Pozsony (today Bratislava, Slovakia), the family lived in Temesvár (today Timişoara, Romania and Arad. He started his studies in Kis-Szeben (today Sabinov, Slovakia), Gyöngyös and Kassa (today Košice, Slovakia). At the age of 18 he was admitted to the Seminary and then to the Central Seminary in Pest. He was ordered priest in 1877.
He was assistant minister in Füzesabony. In 1859 he taught philosophy and Latin in high-school in Eger. In 1860 he became school inspector in the Seminary in Pest. In 1886 he was called to Eger, where he was teaching law history and statistics at the Faculty of Law. From 1868 he worked for the Diocese of Kassa as Bishop János Perger’s assistant. In 1872 he was appointed vicar of Sárospatak. When he left – as an acknowledgement for his merits – he received the Honorary Citizenship of Sárospatak .In 1875 he became sub deacon and in 1882 abbot in Vértes-Keresztúr, in 1884 Canon of Kassa and in 186 Archdeacon.
He was so popular in Zemplén County, that he was offered a Parliamentary mandate from several election districts. Dessewffy refused the proposals, he stayed away from politics. As a school inspector of the diocese and the head-master of the Catholic teacher’s college he made efforts to improve public education.
In January 4, 1890 after the death of Sándor Bonnaz he was elected Bishop of the Csanád diocese. His first task was to renovate the Episcopal palace, which hosted the Kaiser and King Franz Joseph I, who came to the opening of the agricultural exposition which took place on September 16, 1891. Bishop Dessewffy organized several pilgrimages to Italy. One in 1893, when together with 300 other participants he visited Rome. In 1900 he organised another pilgrimage to Venice to the relic of Saint Gellért. Here he was hosted by Giuseppe Sarto, Bishop of Venice, the future Pope Pius X. Even in his new position he remained faithful to his principles, his most important task was to help the poor and to promote the development of the educational system. He took part in the founding of several schools in Szeged, Temesvár and Makó. Together with many of his fellow bishops he supported the Hungarian students to study their native language in the Seminary in Jászvásár (today Iaşi, Romania).
He had a distinct interest for Makó, which he often visited. In 1893 he gave 80000 Crowns for the construction of the High/School. He laid the founding stone and in 1895 he inaugurated the building. In 1903 he financed the renovation of the Hotel Korona and of the wooden theatre named after Kornélia Hollósy. He also made donations to several villages. In 1902 he donated three bells and an organ to the Catholic Church in Maroslele. He gave land to the locals on a reasonable price with the possibility of payment by instalments to 100 settlers.
In 1901 he consecrated the Millennium Dome in Temesvár. In 1895 he contributed to the settlement of the newly founded (1881) Salvadorian Order in Mehala and in Erzsébetváros (today Elisabetin).
Dessewffys contribution for the development of the education system was outstanding, he founded a teachers’ college. He was the president of the Museum Association in Upper-Hungary and member of the Public Education Association in Abaúj-Torna County. He was also member of the Catholic Journeymen’s Association in Kassa and member of the committee of the public hospital in Kassa. He was a passionate collector of antiquities. He published several religious and political dissertations. During his lifetime he gave one million Crowns for charity and public education.
The Holy Seat gave him the titles of Assistant to the Papal Throne and Count of Rome. Because of his illness, he spent his last years in Budapest, where he died in December 12, 1907. He was buried in the cathedral in Temesvár. He was mourned by many people regardless of their denomination. It is generally acknowledged that he is one of Bishop Saint Gellért’s worthy successor.
