José Maurer was born in Püttlingen, and entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, more commonly known as the Redemptorists, on 10 September 1921.

He then did missionary work with the Bolivian Indians, serving as superior of the Redemptorist residence in La Paz from 1926 to 1947, when he became vice-provincial of his congregation for South America.

He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 16 from Cardinal Adeodato Giovanni Piazza, OCD, with Archbishop Francesco Beretti and Bishop Augusto Sieffert, CSSR, serving as co-consecrators.

Maurer was later promoted to Archbishop of Sucre on 27 October 1951 and attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965.

Maurer resigned his post as Archbishop on 30 November 1983 after twenty-nine years of service.