Australian Dictionary of Biography entry: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/forro-ferenc-istvan-frank-10221

---

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Forró, Ferenc

Hungarian migrant chaplain; born Hajós, Hungary, 20 March 1914; died Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, 13 June 1974, aged 60.

Frank Forró (original name Ferenc Nebl) was the son of simple honest parents, and his twin brother became a Franciscan priest. After primary schooling in a public school in Hajós, and secondary school in Kalocsa, he entered the Society, 30 July 1930, in Budapest, where he was also a junior, finishing his secondary education, 1932-35, and studying philosophy, 1935-38. Theology was at Szeged, 1938-42, and he was ordained priest, 22 June 1941. He had changed his name from Nebl to Forró in 1936.

After studies he was a chaplain and catechist at Kolozsvár, today Cluj, Romania, 1942-43, and taught theology in the school in the Hungarian town of Hódmezövásárhely, 1943-45. Tertianship in Budapest followed, 1945-46. Preparing to go to the Chinese mission in Hopeh province, he was stationed at Szeged, 1946-47.

In the autumn of 1947 he was appointed a missionary in China. He reached Beijing on 12 March 1948, together with fellow Hungarian Jesuit, József Kráhl. He went first to Chabanel Hall, Beijing, learning Chinese, but in August 1949 he had to leave his 200 converts, and went to Villa Flor, Macao, were he stayed six months at the Chinese-Hungarian dictionary project initiated by Jenö Zsámár. He was then sent to Australia.

He reached Sydney, 7 August 1950, to take care of the Hungarian emigrants. There he remained until April 1954, when he moved to Perth until 1959 doing the same work. His tasks included working in the old people's home, attending scout camps, children's summer rallies, playing games with the youngsters, and much spiritual and pastoral care.

He returned to Sydney until 1968 when he had a heart attack. During 1970 he was a valued spiritual father to the scholastics at Blackfriars, Canberra. Finally, on 29 October 1970 he returned to Europe and found a new home in the English Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Schrobenhausen, where he taught religious knowledge and acted as chaplain. He died suddenly while making plans to revisit Australia. He was buried in the Jesuit cemetery at Pullach, near Munich.

Forró was an attractive and witty priest, with indomitable kindness, an impish grin and a sincere interest in others. Hungarians and Jesuits alike loved him. He had much common sense, was a spiritual man, and related well to people. He had a hard time with his countrymen, among whom there were various factions, but he managed to continue his work tirelessly. He was a good companion and a loyal servant of his flock.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)