“These individuals and moments challenged the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of New Orleans to not only change the narrative of the church, but to affirm that we share common journeys together,” Bishop Cheri said. Peter Claver the Office of Black Catholic Ministries and the Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, founded in 1980 to explore Scripture and church teachings from both “a righteous Black consciousness and an authentic Catholic tradition.” ![]() In a 2018 address honoring New Orleans’ tricentennial, Bishop Cheri traced the history of the Black Catholic church in New Orleans and praised the Sisters of the Holy Family, founded in 1842 by Venerable Henriette Delille, a free woman of color the Knights and Ladies of St. “As toxic as the crossroads of life are these days, will we have the courage and wisdom to stay vigilant amidst … the gross violence and abuse by law enforcement? This is not a time for the faint of heart but for the courageous.” “This scene drains our spirits and clouds the union of the human family. “Enough is enough,” he said from the steps of the seminary, where he did his theological studies. The prayer service was called “Requiem for the Black Children of God.” In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, Bishop Cheri led a peaceful march of 250 from the archdiocesan chancery building to Notre Dame Seminary. I think that’s why so many people loved him.” When you talked to him, you felt like you were the only person in the world that mattered even though he might have had eight million other things going on.”Īugustine told the Clarion Herald, New Orleans’ archdiocesan newspaper, “Bishop Cheri’s charism - and maybe it’s the Franciscan thing of hospitality – was something you felt with him. “When you think of bishops being shepherds, you see someone who cares about people, one on one. “We saw him not only as a vocal advocate for African American Catholics and advocating for our needs, but also as a shepherd to the world,” said Ansel Augustine, director of the New Orleans archdiocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministries. In 2015, when Pope Francis named him an auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, he had been director of campus ministry at Quincy University in Quincy, Ill., and as vicar of the Holy Cross Friary in Quincy since 2011. He also was pastor of a Nashville, Tennessee, parish from 1996- 2002 during that time he also was a member of the provincial council for his Franciscan province (1999-2002). 26, 1996, and served mostly in Illinois in various ministries, including as a high school chaplain, guidance counselor, choir director and campus minister. ![]() He professed solemn vows in the order Aug. In 1992, then-Father-Cheri entered the novitiate of the Franciscans’ Sacred Heart Province. The late bishop was ordained a New Orleans archdiocesan priest May 20, 1978, by Archbishop Philip M. “We were delighted to receive him back into the Archdiocese of New Orleans as auxiliary bishop in 2015, and I have enjoyed working with him in sharing episcopal ministry and shepherding God’s people.” “And then, he heard God’s call to join the Franciscans and was a valued member of the Franciscan community,” Archbishop Aymond said. The archbishop said Bishop Cheri started his vocational journey in the Archdiocese of New Orleans “as a seminarian, as a priest and as a pastor” and had directed a “very dedicated ministry.” “We mourn his death and thank God for his life and ministry.” Aymond said in a message to priests, religious and laity of the archdiocese. “He has been called home to the Lord,” New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. He was hospitalized after attending the national Lyke Conference for Black Catholics last June, and he began dialysis several months later and was dealing with a serious heart condition. He was born with one kidney and had been on dialysis three days a week for several months. Peter Claver Parish in New Orleans until kidney and heart problems forced him to step away from active ministry. Shemitz)īishop Cheri served most recently as administrator of St. Bishop Cheri died March 21, 2023, at Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans following a lengthy illness. ![]() 14, 2016, at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, N.Y. Cheri III of New Orleans is seen during a Black History Month Mass of thanksgiving Feb.
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