About St. Emery (Parish of Holy Family & St. Emery) · Fairfield, Connecticut
St. Emery is a historic Roman Catholic church located at 838 Kings Highway East in Fairfield, Connecticut, founded in 1932 to serve the Hungarian Catholic community that had migrated from the West End of Bridgeport into the surrounding suburbs. The parish was placed under the patronage of Saint Emeric (Emery) of Hungary and was historically administered by Franciscan Friars from the Commissariat of St. Stephen, King, with roots in Transylvania. In 1971, the parish absorbed the former St. Stephen of Hungary parish of Bridgeport (founded 1887), and on January 2, 2020, St. Emery merged with neighboring Holy Family Parish to form today's combined Parish of Holy Family & St. Emery in the Diocese of Bridgeport. The Romanesque Revival church, designed by noted church architect Anthony J. DePace, was listed on the Connecticut Register of Historic Places on August 7, 2013.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- Saint Emeric (Emery) of Hungary
- Rector
- Reverend Peter J. Cipriani (per 2020 merger announcement)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Bridgeport
Why belong here
St. Emery offers a unique window into nearly a century of Hungarian Catholic heritage in greater Bridgeport, from its Transylvanian-Franciscan roots to its listing on the Connecticut Register of Historic Places. Worshippers can attend Mass at the historic Kings Highway East church (including a lively Syro-Malabar Eastern-rite community) and at the combined Holy Family site, all under the pastoral care of one parish. The community welcomes people of every nationality and language — long described in parish writings as 'a United Nations Parish' — making it an unusually warm place for anyone seeking both deep tradition and broad cultural inclusion.
Mass times at St. Emery (Parish of Holy Family & St. Emery)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
History of St. Emery Parish
St. Emery Parish was founded on New Year's Day 1932, when 547 Hungarian Catholic faithful gathered at a temporary chapel on Hibiscus Street in Fairfield. Placed under the patronage of Saint Emeric of Hungary, the parish was shepherded by Franciscan friars of the Commissariat of St. Stephen, King for nearly eighty years. In 1971 it absorbed the historic St. Stephen of Hungary parish of Bridgeport, and on January 2, 2020, it merged with Holy Family Parish to form today's combined parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
The Founding Era (1930–1932)
Bishop John Nilan of Hartford, together with Reverend Stephen Czernitzky, recognized the spiritual needs of the Hungarian diaspora moving from Bridgeport to Fairfield. Father Benedict Biro, O.F.M., served as founding pastor from 1932 to 1952. The cornerstone of the present church was laid by Bishop Maurice M. McAuliffe and the church was dedicated on November 5, 1932 — the feast day of St. Emery.
Franciscan Administration (1932–2011)
For 79 years St. Emery was administered by Franciscan Friars from the Commissariat (later Custody) of St. Stephen, King. These friars, originally from Transylvania (present-day Romania), organized numerous parish societies and sodalities and tended to the spiritual, cultural and Hungarian-language needs of the community.
The 1971 Merger with St. Stephen of Hungary
On October 10, 1971, the Diocese of Bridgeport merged the Bridgeport parish of St. Stephen of Hungary (founded 1887) into St. Emery, uniting the two Hungarian Catholic communities of greater Bridgeport under one roof in Fairfield. Parishioners describe it as a 'mother and daughter' parish reunited.
Diocesan Status and the 2020 Merger
In 2011 St. Emery transitioned from Franciscan to diocesan administration and was closely associated with Holy Family Parish. On January 2, 2020, the two parishes formally merged to create the Parish of Holy Family & St. Emery, with worship sites at 700 Old Stratfield Road and 838 Kings Highway East.
Architecture & Historic Designation
The church is a Romanesque Revival building designed by Anthony J. DePace, a noted New York architect of Catholic churches. The building was begun on Easter Sunday 1932 and dedicated on November 5, 1932. On August 7, 2013, the Church of St. Emery was officially registered as a Historic Place in the State of Connecticut.
Sacraments
Confessions are heard by appointment at the parish office (203-336-1835). Baptisms and Marriages are also arranged through the parish office, with marriage preparation required.
Parish Ministries & Societies
St. Emery's rich heritage includes numerous devotional societies organized by the founding Franciscan pastors and continued through the decades. These groups have welcomed people of every ethnic and national heritage, fulfilling the parish's longstanding reputation as a 'United Nations Parish.'
- St. Margaret of Hungary Altar Society
- St. Emery Rosary Society
- St. Emery Ladies Guild
- Father Biro Men's League
- Holy Name Society
- Children of Mary Sodality
- St. Emery Seniors
- Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
Hungarian Catholic Heritage
St. Emery's roots run deep in Hungarian Catholic tradition. Placed under the patronage of Saint Emeric (Emery), son of King Stephen I, the parish preserves Magyar language, customs and culture while remaining open to people of every background. The 1971 merger with St. Stephen of Hungary cemented its role as the principal Hungarian Catholic community in greater Bridgeport.
Visiting the Church
Visitors are welcome at the historic St. Emery church, which retains its original Romanesque Revival architecture and historic murals. Sunday Mass at 10:00 am (English) and the Sunday 4:00 pm Syro-Malabar Rite Mass are both celebrated at the Kings Highway East site. The address is 838 Kings Highway East, Fairfield, CT 06825.
Contact & Parish Office
The combined Parish of Holy Family & St. Emery can be reached at (203) 336-1835 or by email at [email protected]. The official website is http://www.holyfamilystemery.org/.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Benedict Biro, O.F.M.1932–1952
Founding pastor; Franciscan friar from Transylvania; organized parish societies and the school
- Franciscan Friars (Commissariat/Custody of St. Stephen, King)1932–2011
St. Emery was administered by Franciscan friars for 79 years before becoming a diocesan parish