Francis Bible Schulte, quiet servant of God, is laid to rest
In a sanctuary steeped in history and populated with youngsters in school uniforms, retired Archbishop Francis Bible Schulte was laid to rest Thursday (Jan. 28), eulogized as a distinguished educator who shepherded local Roman Catholics for 12 years with quiet dignity and unwavering commitment to his faith. Schulte, who led the Archdiocese of New Orleans from December 1988 to January 2002, died Jan. 17 at age 89 in his native Philadelphia.
"We thank God for the life and ministry of Archbishop Schulte," current Archbishop Gregory Aymond said, starting the 90-minute funeral Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. He characterized Schulte as a quiet, gentle, unselfish and humble leader of the faith, one who "left his fingerprints ... but really the heart prints are on this local church."
After the Mass, clergy members moved Schulte's casket into a crypt on the right side of the sanctuary, making him the 13th leader of the archdiocese to be interred beneath the floor of the historic cathedral. That practice began in the 1800s.
White-robed clergy from throughout the region filled pews of the cathedral for the 2 p.m. Mass, which followed a visitation that began at 9 a.m. A hearse from Jacob Schoen & Sons Funeral Home, which has handled arrangements for all previous archbishops, remained parked in front of the cathedral as French Quarter tourists walked by and musicians played nearby.
Throughout the morning, people ambled up to Schulte's open casket near the sanctuary, some stopping to say a prayer. Shortly before the service began, students from local Catholic schools began to file into pews, a testament to Schulte's drive to streamline and improve archdiocesean education. Before coming to New Orleans, Schulte had served as superintendent of Philadelphia archdiocesan schools, and he spent eight years as a classroom teacher in the 1950s. A large arrangement of yellow flowers from a Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia sat next to his casket.
"Locally, he was unknown," said Muench, who was often queried by local clergy about incoming archbishop's management style. "My standard answer became, it's good news and bad news. The good news is he's organized. The bad news is he's very organized."
Muench said Schulte was "a genius at collaboration and consultation" and had a special talent for "picking people's brains." In dealing with people, the late archbishop always exhibited a "warm heart and personal style."
He also had a penchant for improvised prayer. One, in particular, stuck with Muench: "We pray for those we need and those who need us."
One of those visiting Schulte's casket before the Mass was Connie Guise Dempsey, who came from San Diego to attend the funeral. Dempsey described Schulte as a close friend of her first husband and an important part of her family's life when they lived in Philadelphia. Schulte gave the eulogy at the funeral of her husband, who died years ago in a car wreck.
She said Schulte and her late husband played tennis on Friday evenings and joined her family for supper afterwards. He was so close to the family that her four children called him "Uncle Frank." He would "stand in the kitchen, watch me cook and occasionally sample things while still in the pot."
Although she was unable to attend a recent memorial service for Schulte in Philadelphia, Dempsey said she could not miss his funeral in New Orleans. "When you love people, you have to be able to say goodbye," she said.
Muench recalled that at Schulte's installation Mass in New Orleans on Feb. 14, 1989, the Philadelphia native said of arriving in the Crescent City, "I am home." The bishop closed his homily by saying, "Today, archbishop, I reapply those words back to you.
"Yes, archbishop, you are home. ... here in this historic house of God where your earthly remains will be placed. But also in your heavenly home to hear the words 'well done good and faithful servant. Come share your master's joy.'
"We thank God for the life and ministry of Archbishop Schulte," current Archbishop Gregory Aymond said, starting the 90-minute funeral Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. He characterized Schulte as a quiet, gentle, unselfish and humble leader of the faith, one who "left his fingerprints ... but really the heart prints are on this local church."
After the Mass, clergy members moved Schulte's casket into a crypt on the right side of the sanctuary, making him the 13th leader of the archdiocese to be interred beneath the floor of the historic cathedral. That practice began in the 1800s.
He spent his time preparing the Archdiocese of New Orleans for changing patterns of parish life.
White-robed clergy from throughout the region filled pews of the cathedral for the 2 p.m. Mass, which followed a visitation that began at 9 a.m. A hearse from Jacob Schoen & Sons Funeral Home, which has handled arrangements for all previous archbishops, remained parked in front of the cathedral as French Quarter tourists walked by and musicians played nearby.
Throughout the morning, people ambled up to Schulte's open casket near the sanctuary, some stopping to say a prayer. Shortly before the service began, students from local Catholic schools began to file into pews, a testament to Schulte's drive to streamline and improve archdiocesean education. Before coming to New Orleans, Schulte had served as superintendent of Philadelphia archdiocesan schools, and he spent eight years as a classroom teacher in the 1950s. A large arrangement of yellow flowers from a Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia sat next to his casket.
Aymond celebrated the Mass, and the Rev. Robert Muench, bishop of Baton Rouge, gave the homily. Muench, a close associate of Schulte, said the late archbishop's organizational skills helped him streamline archdiocesean finances and retire $12 million of debt.
Well done good and faithful servant. Come share your master's joy."
After Schulte was appointed to lead the New Orleans archdiocese in 1988, but before he was installed, Muench said, the Pennsylvania native was a virtual stranger in the New Orleans Catholic community. Schulte came to the city after serving as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va.. Before that, he was an auxiliary bishop in Philadelphia."Locally, he was unknown," said Muench, who was often queried by local clergy about incoming archbishop's management style. "My standard answer became, it's good news and bad news. The good news is he's organized. The bad news is he's very organized."
Muench said Schulte was "a genius at collaboration and consultation" and had a special talent for "picking people's brains." In dealing with people, the late archbishop always exhibited a "warm heart and personal style."
He also had a penchant for improvised prayer. One, in particular, stuck with Muench: "We pray for those we need and those who need us."
One of those visiting Schulte's casket before the Mass was Connie Guise Dempsey, who came from San Diego to attend the funeral. Dempsey described Schulte as a close friend of her first husband and an important part of her family's life when they lived in Philadelphia. Schulte gave the eulogy at the funeral of her husband, who died years ago in a car wreck.
She said Schulte and her late husband played tennis on Friday evenings and joined her family for supper afterwards. He was so close to the family that her four children called him "Uncle Frank." He would "stand in the kitchen, watch me cook and occasionally sample things while still in the pot."
Although she was unable to attend a recent memorial service for Schulte in Philadelphia, Dempsey said she could not miss his funeral in New Orleans. "When you love people, you have to be able to say goodbye," she said.
Muench recalled that at Schulte's installation Mass in New Orleans on Feb. 14, 1989, the Philadelphia native said of arriving in the Crescent City, "I am home." The bishop closed his homily by saying, "Today, archbishop, I reapply those words back to you.
"Yes, archbishop, you are home. ... here in this historic house of God where your earthly remains will be placed. But also in your heavenly home to hear the words 'well done good and faithful servant. Come share your master's joy.'
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