Perron Joseph Auve

Monsignor Perron Joseph Auve, a senior priest and former chancellor, vicar general and apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Yakima, died Monday, Nov. 23, at Trios Southridge Hospital in Kennewick, following a brief illness. He was 89 and had been in assisted living since a bad fall in 2019 led to his retirement as pastor of Holy Spirit Parish there.

An educator, administrator, and charismatic preacher, Msgr. Auve was born July 1, 1936 in Yakima, to Eugene J. and Alice M. (Devaney) Auve. He attended Saint Paul Parish School through eighth grade, then enrolled in St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore in 1954, entering St. Thomas Seminary there in 1958. He was ordained a priest in Yakima on May 19, 1962 by the Most Reverend Joseph Dougherty, first bishop of the diocese, which was established in 1951.

The newly-ordained Father Auve was assigned as an assistant priest at Holy Family Parish in Yakima on Sept. 1, 1962, serving there for a year. Having taken extra education classes in the seminary, as well as at Seattle University and at Central Washington University, Msgr. Auve also taught for a year at Central Catholic High School, then joined the faculty at St. Peter the Apostle Seminary in Cowiche, serving until 1966. He was headmaster of Central Catholic until 1968; served as assistant administrator at Carroll High School for a year; then served as principal from 1969 to 1975, while also serving as pastor of St. Peter Parish in Cowiche.

Msgr. Auve then served as co-pastor of Holy Family for a year, while also starting a 21-year assignment as chancellor of the diocese. In 1983 he was named vicar general, the second-ranking position in the diocese, by Bishop William Skylstad. In that post he worked closely with Skylstad, Bishop Francis George, and Bishop Carlos Sevilla, S.J. in the administration of the diocese and in the bishops' collaborative ministry with priests. On March 8, 1996, he was named a Prelate of Honor, with the title Monsignor, by Pope John Paul II.

He served as apostolic administrator of the diocese following the departure of Bishop George to the Portland Archdiocese in 1996, prior to Bishop Sevilla's arrival in 1997. Msgr. Auve also served on the board of the Washington State Catholic Conference; was a diocesan consultor; edited the Central Washington Catholic newspaper for 16 years; and was spiritual director for REACH Youth Ministry, active in the diocese for many years.

Besides serving on several occasions as pastor in Cowiche, Msgr. Auve also was in residence at St. Paul Cathedral, and served as pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Ellensburg from 1996-2002, when he ended his service as vicar general to work at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. What began as a one-year assignment to allow Fr. Richard Keolker to take a sabbatical, ended after five years of service as a spiritual director and pastoral theology professor there.

Msgr. Auve then returned to the diocese, serving as pastor at Holy Spirit from August 2007 to June 13, 2019, as well as the diocese's director of ongoing priestly formation. A bad fall at the diocesan priests retreat in 2019 nearly led to his death, and limited his mobility. Taking up residence at Parkview Estates in Kennewick, he celebrated Mass for other residents for several years while faithfully praying the church's Liturgy of the Hours, and participating in diocesan events.

One of the joys of Msgr. Auve's life was participation in the church's charismatic renewal. He was diocesan liaison to the movement for many years, and also was a member of the People of Praise, a charismatic, ecumenical and covenant community with 22 locations across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

He also was dedicated to the Jesus Caritas fraternity of priests, meeting faithfully with members of his fraternal group regularly for decades. While he had many priest friends, one of the closest was the late Father Ronald Patnode. For many years they would vacation together, each with their own recreation vehicle, since Msgr. Auve was not overly fond of Fr. Patnode's beloved chihuahua, Daisy.

Msgr. Auve was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dennis. He is survived by his sister, Maryalice Fontaine, of Richand, and numerous relatives.

The Funeral Vigil will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 3, preceded by a viewing at 5 p.m., at Holy Spirit Parish, 7409 W. Clearwater, Kennewick, WA 99336. The Funeral Mass will be at 12 p.m. Thursday, December 4, at St. Paul Cathedral, 15 S. 12th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902, followed by burial in the Priests Plot at Calvary Cemetery, 1405 S. 24th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902.

Memorials in his honor may be made to the Priest Retirement Fund or Seminarian Education Fund of the Diocese of Yakima, 101 S. 12th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902. Einan's at Sunset Funeral Home in Richland has been entrusted with arrangements.