New Orleans Auxiliary Bishop Fernand Cheri dies at 71; archbishop thanks God 'for his life, ministry

NEW ORLEANS (OSV News) -- Bishop Fernand (Ferd) Joseph Cheri III, a New Orleans native who had served since 2015 as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, died March 21 at Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans following a lengthy illness. He was 71. 
Ordained to the episcopacy March 23, 2015, at St. Louis Cathedral, the late prelate was one of seven active African-American bishops in the U.S. 
A solemn vesper service took place March 31 at Notre Dame Seminary followed by three hours of visitation. On April 1 at St. Louis Cathedral, two hours of visitation preceded the funeral Mass. 
Bishop Cheri served most recently as administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish in New Orleans until kidney and heart problems forced him to step away from active ministry. 
He was born with one kidney and had been on dialysis three days a week for several months. 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 has been called home to the Lord," New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond said in a message to priests, religious and laity of the archdiocese. "We mourn his death and thank God for his life and ministry." 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."