Funeral Arrangements for Bishop Cheri

Most Reverend Fernand Joseph Cheri, III, OFM, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, died on March 21, 2023.  He was 71 years of age.

Bishop Fernand Cheri was born in New Orleans, LA on January 28, 1952.  He attended Epiphany Elementary School, New Orleans, St. John Prep, New Orleans, and St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict.  He received a Masters of Divinity at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and a Masters of Theology from the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, New Orleans., and was ordained to the priesthood on May 20, 1978 at St. Louis Cathedral.  Bishop Cheri served as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, New Orleans and St. Joseph the Worker Church, Marrero.  Temporary Administrator at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church, New Orleans, and Administrator at St. Joseph the Worker Church, Marrero.  He served as pastor at St. Francis de Sales, New Orleans. In 1996, he made his solemn profession in the Order of Friars Minor in the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and became a Franciscan.  Bishop Cheri spent several years dedicated to campus ministry at Quincy University in Quincy, IL.  He returned to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, when his Episcopal Ordination as Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans, and Titular Bishop of Membressa took place on March 23, 2015.  Bishop Cheri also served as Administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish, New Orleans.  In addition to his pastoral assignments, Bishop Cheri served as a member of the College of Consultors, was a teacher at St. Augustine High School, New Orleans, and campus minister at Xavier University, New Orleans.  He was the Vocation Minister for the OFM St. Louis Province, served on the Archbishop James P. Lyke Foundation, Catholic Campus Ministry Association, Episcopal Liaison to the African Conference of Catholic Clergy and Religious in the US, Vice-President of the National Black Catholic Congress Board of Trustees, and convener of the U.S. African American Bishops.  Bishop Cheri was a resident at Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans at the time of his death.  Well done, good and faithful servant!

Funeral arrangements are:

Solemn Vespers:          
Friday, March 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Notre Dame Seminary, 2901 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans

Visitation:                    
Friday, March 31, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Notre Dame Seminary
                         
Visitation:                   
Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans

Funeral Mass:             
Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.  
St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
                       
Archbishop Aymond will be the main celebrant.

Interment:                   
Burial will take place at St. Louis Cathedral