As a Jesuit seminarian, he was one of the founding members of the St. Louis Jesuits, composers who popularized a contemporary style of church music set to sacred texts sung in English due to the liturgical reforms initiated by the Second Vatican Council.

Other members of the St. Louis Jesuits are Bob Dufford, Roc O'Connor, John Foley, and Tim Manion.

[3] As a result, beginning with hymnals such as Glory and Praise, their music became standard repertoire in Catholic parishes in the English-speaking world.

[4] Schutte continues as a prolific composer of liturgical music, releasing nine solo collections with OCP Publications.

His music is credited in movie and television soundtracks, including Dark Waters,[8] Yes, God, Yes,[9] Everybody Loves Raymond, Will and Grace, and Mistresses.

He was a student of celebrated American painter and artist, Sr. Thomasita Fessler, OSF at Studio San Damiano.

[17][18][19] In a circular of July 29, 2008, the Congregation for Divine Worship directed that "in liturgical celebrations, in songs and prayers the name of God in the form of the tetragrammaton YHWH is neither to be used or pronounced.