October 26, 1920 - October 29, 2012
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul,
and the souls of all the faithfully departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.
THE
REVEREND CARL G. SCHULTE, C.M.
The Reverend Carl G. Schulte,
C.M., entered into eternal life on October 29, 2012 at the age of 92.
Father Schulte was born in East
Moline, IL on October 26, 1920 to Pauline (Neels) and William Schulte. He
attended elementary and high school in East Moline, IL, and St. Vincent’s
College, Cape Girardeau, MO. He entered the Vincentian novitiate on May 30,
1940, and took vows on May 31, 1942. He completed his philosophy and theology
studies at St. Mary’s of the Barrens, Perryville, MO and was ordained there on
May 30, 1948.
During his years of priestly
service, Father Schulte ministered in several apostolates including foreign
missions, seminary education and formation, direction of the Daughters of
Charity, and preaching parish missions.
Enthusiastic to begin his
priestly ministry as a missionary, Father Carl went to China in 1948, soon
after his ordination intending to serve there many years. However, post- World
War II persecutions and other conditions made his stay in China a very short
one. Approximately seven months after he arrive in China he was back in the
United States assisting in the formation of future priests at St. John’s
Seminary in San Antonio, TX. His ministry to future priests continued at
Assumption Seminary, San Antonio, TX; St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Lemont, IL;
Cardinal Glennon College, St. Louis, MO; St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Cape
Girardeau, MO; and St. Mary’s Seminary, Perryville, MO. In order to offer
effective leadership in seminaries, he earned a master’s degree in education at
St. Louis University in 1963.
Father Carl was asked in 1974
to restart The Vincentian Parish Missions. He and his confrere, Fr. Frank
Crowley, were the first Vincentians since St. Vincent de Paul to travel around
the country preaching the Vincentian Missions. Fr. Carl was involved with this
until 1981.
After his ministry in priestly
formation, Father Schulte worked at the Vincentian Foreign Mission Society, St.
Louis, MO and the Evangelization Center, Cape Girardeau, MO. From 1981 to 1993
he was the Director of the Daughters of Charity of the then East Central
Province, based in Evansville, IL.
In 1993, he was the first
Superior at the Vincentian Parish Mission Center, based in Independence, MO.
He then was Senior Priest in
Residence spending his time as the unofficial Chaplain to The Sisters of St.
Francis of the Holy Eucharist on whose property the Parish Mission Center is
located. He was also available for spiritual direction to the laity and some
clergy. While stationed there, even with the challenges of diminishing eyesight
and health, Father Carl became aware of the life and work of a 19th
century French Daughter of Charity, Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey, who
ministered in Smyrna, near Ephesus. Father Schulte took up the challenge of
writing of her life and works. In 2011 he published The Life of Sr. Marie de
Mandat-Grancey and Mary’s House in Ephesus.
Due to declining health, Father
Schulte moved to the Apostle of Charity Residence at St. Mary’s of the Barrens
in Perryville, MO in January, 2012. While his mental faculties were still
sharp, his body was becoming more tired. In the fall of 2012, he was diagnosed
with myeloma and given care to make his life more comfortable as he approached
the end of his days.
As his Vincentian confreres,
the Daughters of Charity and his family and friends commend him to the Lord, it
is with thanksgiving for his 72 years as a Vincentian and 64 years as a priest
spent in the service of others. May he rest in peace.
