Fr. David Maurer and Rev. Karen Maurer are
co-pastors (Vicars) of St. Clare's.
Rev. Karen, a lifelong Californian, was born
in Downey, California and was raised in Fullerton. She began her religious life in the
Presbyterian Church. Later she was
confirmed as a Lutheran, and finally joined the Episcopal Church. Her understanding of a personal relationship
to Jesus Christ and how he wants to impact us in our daily lives was greatly
enhanced through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. She is also active in Cursillo.
Rev. Karen graduated from USC in 1976. She taught high school and coached
volleyball, basketball and swimming at Ramona Convent in Alhambra. She also did her graduate work at USC. She worked for the Capistrano Unified School District,
and later was a job trainer with developmentally disabled young adults with
Casa De Ama, a private home for high-functioning developmentally disabled
people.
Rev. Karen's hobbies include playing beach
volleyball, body-surfing, reading, playing guitar, song-writing and cooking.
Fr. David is a lifelong Episcopalian. He was born in Los Angeles and graduated from Fullerton College and CSUN,
where he obtained his BS in Health Sciences. He is certified as an athletic trainer by the
National Athletic Trainers Association. He
later graduated from Children’s Hospital School of Physical Therapy in 1980.
His career has taken him from working as a
masonry contractor in the family business while he was in college, then as an
athletic trainer at USC, followed by private practice as a registered physical
therapist and finally to orthopedic and spine physical therapy.
The Maurers were married in 1976 and have 2
adult children, Gretchen and Michael.
Their road to the priesthood began with a
giant leap of faith in 2004. After
raising their 2 children, they left their secular careers and moved from their
home in San Clemente to Ambridge, PA for 3 years to
attend Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry.
The Maurers were ordained priests together in
January 2008 by Bishop Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles.
Fr. David and Rev. Karen want to emphasize
their availability. They strongly
encourage anyone needing a priest to call any time of the day or night. Their cells are with them at all times. Rev. Karen's is 909-544-9157 and Fr. David's
is 909-644-5904.
