Monsignor John Joseph Auer, 92, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2022 at Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Martin's Home, in Catonsville.

Reverend Monsignor John J. Auer , was born on November 13, 1929 to William Lester Auer and Catherine (Wetzler) Auer. He was baptized at St. Joseph Monastery in the Irvington community of Baltimore where the family lived. He was confirmed in the same church on December 5, 1939 by Archbishop Michael J. Curley, Archbishop of Baltimore.  Monsignor had an older brother William who predeceases him. Monsignor Auer was the oldest priest of the Archdiocese, having been ordained for 65 years.

Monsignor attended St. Joseph Monastery Elementary school and St. Bernadine Elementary school. He attended Mt. St. Joseph High School. After graduating from High School he enrolled in the pre-med program at Johns Hopkins University. While at Johns Hopkins he joined the Newman Club where he met Fr. Walter Gouch, the Newman Club Chaplain at the time. He was very encouraging for Monsignor to consider a vocation to the priesthood. He discerned that he had a vocation to the priesthood and as he noted, "It was a spiritual call to follow Christ and to be of service to others." He entered St. Mary's Seminary, Paca Street, where he studied Philosophy and St. Mary's Seminary in Roland Park where he studied Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1957 by Archbishop Francis P. Keough, Archbishop of Baltimore.

Soon after ordination Monsignor Auer was assigned as assistant priest at St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Rivera Beach. In 1962 he sought permission to join the St. James Missionary Society, founded by Cardinal Cushing of Boston. The society recruits English speaking priests from the United States to send to Latin America for a five year period. After learning Spanish in Peru, Monsignor Auer headed to Ecuador to do social work with parishes. He worked with the HOPE ship, an effort to bring United States medical personnel to third world countries. One of his major accomplishments while working in Ecuador was his involvement with the formation of a credit union in a poor town where the citizens had no place to safely save their money. To this day, the credit union thrives, an achievement that Monsignor Auer continued to take great pride in. It is called the "Padre Auer Credit Union." Upon his return from South America in 1967 Monsignor Auer was assigned as assistant priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Woodlawn. In October 1970 Monsignor was assigned to Holy Trinity in Glen Burnie where he served in shared ministry with other priests of the parish.  After the formation of four new parishes he was appointed Pastor of Holy Trinity in June 1974. In October 1985 Monsignor was appointed Temporary Associate at St. Andrew by the Bay. In February 1986 Monsignor was appointed Pastor of St. Brigid in Baltimore City. In November 1988 he was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville. While at Our Lady of the Fields he helped with the planning and building of a parish center which included parish offices, classrooms for religious education and a parish hall. Monsignor Auer officially retired on September 1, 2002. In August of 2003, Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II named him a Papal Chamberlain with the title Monsignor.

Not long after Monsignor came back from Latin America he was appointed Director of Spanish Apostolate. At the time he was one of a few priests in the Archdiocese who was fluent in Spanish.

Upon his retirement Monsignor accepted an invitation from then, Father Mitchell Rozanski, Pastor of St. John in Severna Park, to take up residence. His ministry continued over the next 13 years offering Masses, hearing confessions, visiting the sick, celebrating funerals and officiating at Weddings.

After leaving St. John the Evangelist Monsignor took up residence at St. Martin Home for the Elderly where he was lovingly cared for by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Monsignor Auer had a long and fruitful Priesthood. He was known for his calm demeanor and gentle spirit. He loved the priesthood. As one brother priest noted he was a genuinely holy man. Bishop Parker remembers Monsignor for his priestly example and guidance that he gave when he was a parishioner at Our Lady of the Fields and had applied to be a candidate for the priesthood. "He walked the journey with me all the way to my ordination to the priesthood during which he vested me in a chasuble for the first time. It was as though he placed his own priesthood onto mine for which I will always be grateful. I consider myself extremely fortunate, alongside countless other people, to have been blessed by his ministry."

Monsignor's nephew, Charles Auer, related how his uncle was such an energetic and supportive presence to his many nieces and nephews. He officiated at their Weddings and the baptisms of their children. Sadly, he also presided over the funerals of his grand-niece Sarah Elizabeth Auer (2002) and grand-nephew Matthew Stephen Auer (2004). Monsignor introduced the family to skiing and helped the younger ones in their first attempts on the slopes. He shared his extensive knowledge and experience with sailing, as well as art and music. One treasured memory of Uncle John involved a snow storm-extended Christmas visit that was further extended to allow the streaming of multiple seasons of "Downton Abbey.".

For Monsignor Auer, life was filled with many interesting things to do. He enjoyed, golfing, skiing and travelling. At 50, he decided to take up painting. Ultimately, watercolors became his favorite medium. One of his painting hung in a local gallery. Yet, through a man with many interests, the Church was always his first love.

Msgr. Auer is survived by his nephews, Stephen, Charles, Gregory, and Robert Auer, and his nieces Barbara Auer Hertz, Mary Auer Waters, and Kathleen Auer Mihm, and their children and grandchildren.

Arrangements are as follows:

Reception of the Body

• Monday, August 22, 2002 at 2:00 pm at Our Lady of the Fields, 1070 Cecil Avenue, Millersville MD 21108

Visitation/Viewing

• Monday, August 22, 2022 at 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Our Lady of the Fields, 1070 Cecil Avenue, Millersville, MD 21108

Christian Wake Service

• Monday, August 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm at Our Lady of the Fields, 1070 Cecil Avenue, Millersville, MD 21108

Funeral Mass

• Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of the Fields, 1070 Cecil Avenue, Millersville, MD 21108
• Bishop Adam Parker, Celebrant; Monsignor James Farmer, Homilist
• The Funeral Mass will also be livestreamed on the Our Lady of the Fields Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfNUTMqgHDMM-tmZ-omihJA

Interment

• Our Lady of the Fields Cemetery (adjacent to the Church

Donations:

• In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 689 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146 or to Our Lady of the Fields Roman Catholic Church, 1070 Cecil Avenue, Millersville, MD 21108, or Catholic Charities online at https://www.catholiccharities-md.org/donate/donate-now/

Expressions of Condolence may be sent to:

• Charles Auer

17116 Campbell Farm Road

Poolesville, MD 20837

May he rest in peace.

Please pray for Monsignor Auer and may all the faithful departed rest in peace.

May God grant him eternal rest.

Pray too for his family and friends who mourn his passing.

May the promise of our faith be a source of hope and consolation for them.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com