Bishop Fernand Cheri, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and Franciscan Friar of the St. Louis Province, died March 21, 2023. He died following a lengthy illness, the Clarion Herald, newspaper for the archdiocese, reported in a recent story.
Bishop Cheri, O.F.M. visited the Diocese of Raleigh in January 2022 to celebrate Mass in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The Diocese of Raleigh was honored by Bishop Cheri’s visit,” wrote Jennifer Jones, AAMEN administrator for the diocese. “Please keep Bishop Cheri and his family in your prayers. He will be missed especially by the Black Catholic community.”
He was born in New Orleans in 1952 and ordained to the priesthood in 1978 at St. Louis Cathedral. In 1996, he made his solemn profession and became a Franciscan.
A rosary will be held virtually Thursday, March 23 at 9 p.m. ET, and those who wish to join in prayer are invited to register. Funeral arrangements are pending.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans shared a statement about his life and vocation.