Brother Jerome Schulte, C.PP.S., 86, died at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the infirmary at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio. He had been in failing health.
He was born on August 3, 1937, in Kalida, Ohio, to Alphonse and Frances (Verhoff) Schulte. He entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1951 at Brunnerdale, the Congregation’s former high school seminary near Canton, Ohio. He was professed a brother on Aug. 15, 1955.
After his profession, Brother Jerome worked on the farm at St. Charles Center, then a seminary, and at St. Mary Novitiate in Burkettsville, Ohio. In 1962, he was assigned to Brunnerdale, where he worked on the farm. While there, he was very involved with the Cursillo movement. He remained at Brunnerdale until it was closed in 1988, then served as a missionary in Peru.
On his return from Peru, Brother Jerome became a hospital chaplain, first in Canton then in East Chicago, Ind. In 1998, he was named director of initial formation and resided at Precious Blood Parish in Dayton with candidates who were preparing for religious life. From 2009-2018, Brother Jerome served as senior pastoral associate at St. John the Baptist Church in Glandorf, Ohio.
He moved to St. Charles Center in 2018 and entered into a fulltime ministry of prayer. He was an active and enthusiastic part of Community events at St. Charles for as long as his health allowed.
He is survived by his siblings and spouses: Richard (Jane) Schulte, Bill (Pam) Schulte, Ron (Ruth) Schulte, Nick (Deb) Schulte, Carl (Nora) Schulte, John (Janet) Schulte, Ruth Hovest, Janet Hovest, Rita (Jim) Siebeneck and Ceil (Jim) Eickholt. Along with numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by brothers-in-law Jim Hovest and Mel Hovest.
Brother Jerome was steadfast, conscientious, gentle and true to what he loved. His vocation was brought to him through his family life on the farm; he remained close to his parents, brothers and sisters all his life.
He was devoted to his fellow Missionaries, especially his religious brothers who worked alongside him on Community farms; the Missionaries and candidates in the formation house, to whom he was an official mentor and an unofficial grandpa; Companions (the Missionaries’ lay associates) and parishioners at the parishes where he ministered, all of whom he saw as fellow pilgrims, joined in their journey toward Christ.
Whatever his task in Community life, he accepted with grace and carried out to the best of his abilities. He never stopped looking for ways to serve God and the people of God, and was eager to offer all his gifts to the religious community to which he pledged his life. He was also a talented photographer, and the Congregation is blessed to this day by the images he captured. Through them, we see his kind heart and unique vision of all creation.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at St. Charles, with Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., presiding and homilist. Burial will follow in the Community cemetery.
Calling hours will be held at St. Charles in the St. Gaspar Room from 1 pm to 5 pm on Friday, June 14, 2024 with a prayer service in the Assumption Chapel at 7 pm, and on Saturday from 10 am until Mass begins.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood United States Province.