Pope Francis appoints auxiliary Bishop for New Orleans

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has named Father Fernand J. Cheri, O.F.M., as auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, USA, assigning to him the titular see of Membressa. Father Cheri has been serving as Director of Campus Ministry at Quincy University.

Curriculum vitae of Father Fernand J. Cheri, O.F.M.

Father Cheri was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on 28 January 1958. He attended Saint John Vianney Preparatory Seminary in New Orleans, and undertook ecclesiastical studies at St Joseph Seminary College in St Benedict, LA, (1970-1974) and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans (1974-1978). Subsequently he attained a Master’s degree in Theology at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, also in New Orleans.

He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans on 20 May 1978.

After his priestly ordination, he served as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in New Orleans (1978-1979), and of Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Marrero (1979-1984). From 1984-1984 he was Parochial Administrator of St Joseph the Worker. Father Cheri served as Pastor of Saint Francis de Sales Parish in New Orleans from 1985-1991; and as Parochial Administrator of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, also in New Orleans, from 1990-1991.

In 1992, after a specific vocational discernment, he entered into the novitiate of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) of the Sacred Heart Province.in Franklin, Indiana. He made his solemn vows on 26 August 1996.

As a Franciscan Father he held the following positions: Chaplain and teacher at Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago (1993-1996); Pastor of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Nashville, Tennessee (1996-2002); teacher at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Illinois (1996-2002); Member of the Provincial Council (1999-2002); Director of the O.F.M. Office of Friar Life (2008-2009); Vocation Minister of the O.F.M. Vocation Office (2009-2010); Vice-director of the University Chaplaincy at Xavier University of New Orleans (2010-2011). From 2011 he has served as Director of Campus Ministry at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois.