Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. Joseph E. Auer, Dies
Chicago (Dec. 17, 2020) – Rev. Joseph E. Auer, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former associate pastor at St. Linus Parish in Oak Lawn, passed away Dec. 14, 2020. He was 89 years old.
Auer was born on May 6, 1931, in Pittsburgh. He attended St. Edmund Catholic School in Oak Park, Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.
Auer was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1957, by Cardinal Samuel Stritch, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 5 of the same year at St. Edmund Catholic Church in Oak Park.
After ordination, Auer served in a number of parishes. He was assistant pastor of St. Thomas More Parish on California Avenue, St. Angela Parish on Potomac Street, Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park and St. Bridget Parish on Archer Avenue. Auer was also assigned as pastor at St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Glenview and as associate pastor at St. Ferdinand Parish on Barry Avenue, Queen of the Universe Parish on Hamlin Avenue, St. Theresa Parish in Palatine and St. Linus Parish in Oak Lawn where he served until retirement.
Rev. William J. Finnegan, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Woods, said he will miss his classmate with whom he was blessed to live at the Bishop Timothy Lyne Residence for the last three years. They shared countless conversations and dinners together. “Joe was always a very friendly parish priest. He loved being with people and he dedicated his life to that end. He had a wonderful smile and was very humble and gentle.” He loved sports and was a great fan of the Notre Dame football team, Finnegan added.
Rev. Michael J. Bowler, retired archdiocesan priest and former associate pastor at St. Turibius on Karlov Avenue in Chicago, remembers his classmate as a very nice, reasonable and friendly person.
Visitation hours will be from 8 – 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at St. Linus Church, 10300 South Lawler Avenue in Oak Lawn, while funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. at the same location. The livestream can be watched at: www.memorialslive.com/auer
Interment will be private at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in River Grove.