Father Raphael J. Nuytten
Father Raphael J. Nuytten, CICM, was born in Belgium on February 1, 1924 to Jules and Augusta Nuytten. He had four sisters and six brothers. He entered the Missionhurst-CICM Congregation in Belgium in 1943, and pronounced his Religious Vows in 1944. After completion of philosophy and theology studies, Fr. Ralph was ordained to the Priesthood in 1949 at Scheut, Brussels. His first mission assignment was to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1951. He served there first as associate pastor in Bosu-Mangi (Lisala). Later he became a high school teacher in Alberta (Lisala) and also the director of elementary schools in Umangi and Binga. He remained in the Congo for nine years. Father Ralph became then a member of the CICM mission in the USA. In 1961 he was assigned associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Devine, Texas, and later associate pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in San Antonio. In 1963 Fr. Ralph moved to Pennsylvania where he became a teacher at St. James High School in Chester and in 1964 a teacher at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster. He taught there until 1972 when he returned to San Antonio as associate pastor at St. John Berchmans Parish for the next two years. Father Ralph then became Chaplain at Stella Maris Clinic and at the St. Andrew's Convent with the MCDP sisters. He enrolled at Our Lady of the Lake University, graduating with a Master's Degree in Education in 1976. He then became a teacher at Highlands and Sam Houston High Schools until 1987. For a year Fr. Ralph provided pastoral assistance at St. John Bosco Parish in Natalia. Although retired, Fr. Ralph remained very active in his priestly ministry. He was frequently assigned to preach mission appeals in support of the CICM worldwide missions in churches in the Southwest. He made himself available for pastoral assistance in the local parishes where CICM priests were serving. For six years Father Ralph was presider at the weekly Latin mass at the Maximilian Kolbe Chapel on West Woodlawn. Father Ralph was fluent in many languages; he spoke Flemish, French, Lingala, English, Spanish and Latin. He loved the Church and his priestly ministry. Father Nuytten is survived by relatives in his native country Belgium and Ireland. Well done, good and faithful servant! You will be missed by your many relatives, friends and confreres. Visitation will be on Monday, December 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 1730 Dahlgreen Avenue. Mass of the Resurrection will be offered on Tuesday, December 2 at 10:00 a.m. at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Interment will follow at San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery No.2.
(Note: passed on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008)