Eighteenth Pastor, 1998-2002
Father Lauer was born in Hamilton, Ohio on July 19, 1947. Father Al earned a B.A. in Humanities from St. Gregory Seminary, an M.A. in Classical Languages from Xavier University, and M.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Theology from Mount St. Mary’s of the West Seminary. Ordained on May 25, 1974, he served at St. Luke in Beavercreek, St. Joseph in Springfield, St. Francis de Sales in Cincinnati, Our Lady of Presentation and St. Lawrence, both on the West Side. Father Al served his Deacon Internship at St. Leo in the Fairmont neighborhood of Cincinnati. He also taught at Alter High School in Kettering.
In 1977, he was appointed chaplain for Jewish, Holmes and Children’s Hospitals, while in residence at St. Francis de Sales Church. In 1997 he was appointed temporary administrator of St. Pius Church.
While praying at a retreat in 1983, the Lord called Father Lauer to begin reaching people through the radio by teaching on the readings for daily Mass. Father’s “Daily Bread” radio program has been broadcast throughout the country each week. He is also the author of a daily Scripture study entitled One Bread, One Body and numerous books and pamphlets.
From 1990 until 1998, he was engaged in full-time national ministry of evangelization. He founded Presentation Ministries, an Association of the Laity under the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and a religious community of priests and brothers called the Brothers and Fathers of Pentecost. In 1998, he was named pastor of Old St. Mary’s where he served until his untimely death on October 13, 2002.