Reverend Stephen William Toth

Stephen Toth was born on May 1, 1913, in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents of Hungarian background. As a consequence, he spoke fluent Hungarian. He grew up in Cleveland, attending the Catholic schools there, before coming to London to study at St. Peter’s Seminary. His ordination was on June 3, 1939, by Bishop John Thomas Kidd. His first assignment was as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Langton. He stayed there until 1940.

The early years of Father Toth’s ministry were a tumultuous time. The diocese saw an influx of Hungarian and central European Catholics immigrating due to the situation in Europe, and Bishop Kidd was concerned about their pastoral needs. Father Toth, with his fluency in Hungarian, was in an excellent position to minister to them. He travelled to Tillsonburg to do so for about two years.
He was assistant pastor at St. John Brebeuf Parish in Delhi from 1940 to 1947. In 1947, he became the administrator and first pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Port Burwell, and he stayed there until 1951. When that work was complete, he became pastor at St. Augustine Parish in Auburn and left there in 1955.
The following sixteen years, from 1955 to 1971, were spent as pastor at both St. Brigid’s Parish (Logan) and St. Vincent de Paul Parish (Mitchell). He carried out his duties quietly and without fanfare. He went on sick leave around 1971. Afterward, he assisted in Langton until approximately 1976, before retiring to Tillsonburg. He remained there until his death in April 1986.