Paul J. Sauer, Jr., 93, of Lancaster, passed away at Hospice & Community Care in Mount Joy on December 11, 2025, after a brief illness. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Paul J. Sauer, Sr. and Esther R. (Nixdorf) Sauer. He celebrated 61 years of marriage to Marie A. (McKimm) Sauer in 2025. He was preceded in death by both parents and a sister, Rose Margaret Sauer.

Paul was a 1949 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School. He had begun attending daily Mass in 1940, usually doing so not once but several times each day, and also attending most of the daily funerals of area Catholics. This became his enduring lifelong task, often accompanied by Marie in matching colors. Paul is thought to have attended daily Mass on 8,014 consecutive days.

Prior to marriage, Paul had studied to enter the priesthood, first at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary College in Catonsville, Md., 1949-1950, then St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa., 1950-1956. Opting out of ordination, Paul enlisted with the U.S. Navy and served 1956-1960 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, despite never having learned how to swim.

Paul returned to Latrobe and became a Benedictine monk at St. Vincent Archabbey, 1960-1963. There, he was known as Frater Dismas, the Good Thief – or Dizzy, for short. He was an altar server for 14 Masses one day in 1960. When he felt called to married life, he was properly dispensed from his monastic vows in 1963.

While raising six children, Paul was employed in Lancaster for 21 years as a state employment counselor until his retirement in 1988. He said he enjoyed seven days at that job and absolutely hated all the other 7,658.

Paul was active in his Catholic faith, most recently as a member of St. Philip the Apostle in Millersville. At his various parishes in Lancaster, he participated as a choir member, cantor, lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, sacristan and sexton, parish chairperson, hoagie sales volunteer, festival and carnival worker, church fundraiser committee member, and parish council member. During a Mass and Healing Service at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Lancaster on June 28, 1993, Paul experienced a miraculous healing, ending 23 years of back pain. A church pilgrimage in 2011 took him to the Holy Land in Israel.

Paul is survived by his wife Marie and their six children: daughter Theresa M. (Kevin) Longenecker of Lancaster, and sons Thomas P. Sauer (Lori) of Maplewood, N.J., David P. Sauer of Lebanon, John P. Sauer (Michelle) of Lititz, Dr. Michael P. Sauer (Becka) of St. Augustine, Fla., and Stephen P. Sauer (Jessica) of Lancaster; as well as one niece, 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. He held a special place in his heart for numerous cats in his life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 11 AM at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 2111 Millersville Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603. The family will receive guests at the church at 10 AM, with a recitation of the rosary at 10:45 AM. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Paul's name may be made to the cause of your choice.