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Biography - Fr. John Auer
Fr. John Auer was born just after World War II in San Antonio Texas to Edward and
Elizabeth Auer on October 31st, 1946. His parents are deceased. He has a brother, Bill,
who has just recently remarried. Fr. John was educated in Catholic elementary and high school.
He graduated from St Francis de Sales High School and entered the Marist Father Seminary in San Rafael, California.
After receiving an associate’s degree from St. Peter Channel Seminary, the junior college in Marin County, CA
he entered the Marist Noviate but after a few months decided not to pursue religious life with the Marist Fathers.
He enrolled at Metro State College and obtained a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology. While in college
he was very active in the Newman Club and became very attached with the Bethlehem Fathers, a missionary order.
The summer following his graduation he served in Mexico with a group of college graduates affiliated with the
Mary Knoll Fathers. This experience of working with the poor across the border had a profound effect on his life.
After returning from Mexico, he continued to work with the Bethlehem Fathers at their retreat center in Broomfield, CO.
He also worked at Montgomery Ward in outdoor sales, specifically in their building materials and home improvements section.
He had a very close friend who worked with him in Mexico and is a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver. The friend was
in the seminary and encouraged Fr. John to enter St. Thomas Seminary. Fr. John was ordained on May 19, 1979 for the
Archdiocese of Denver, after receiving a Masters in Divinity. When the Diocese of Colorado Springs was formed
in 1984, Fr. John decided to be a part of this diocese because it is a missionary diocese. After several years in
ministry with the Diocese of Colorado Springs, Fr. John attended Loyola in Chicago and received a Masters
in Pastoral Studies. The emphasis of this program was in parish life and development. In 2004 Fr. John studied in
Rome at the Pontifical North American College for a semester for theological, scriptural and moral updates.
Fr. John has served in a variety of positions in the Diocese of Colorado Springs: Mission Director, Vocation Recruiter,
Police Chaplain, Priest Personnel board, and Episcopal Vicar of the Southern region in the Diocese of Colorado Springs.
He has also been involved in the Charismatic Renewal, Cursillo, and Marriage Encounter. He served as Chaplain for the
Knights of Columbus council 11634. Most of his assignments have been associated with Catholic Schools.
He also has a four-year-old Springer Spaniel named Lacey.
Fr. John was installed as Pastor of St Mark Catholic Church, Highlands Ranch on July 26, 2008. Father John believes
in a strong sense of community life and empowerment of laity in ministry.
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