SOUTHFIELD — The Church of the Transfiguration in Southfield will host a three-day Lenten mission in early April focusing on the theme “Encounter!” and featuring the preaching of a noted Southern bishop and revival leader.

The April 1-3 mission will be led by Bishop Fernand Cheri, OFM, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, who has preached parish missions across the South and Midwest. 

In addition to preaching the parish mission from 7-8:30 p.m. each of the three evenings, the bishop also will preach during weekend Masses at Transfiguration.

According to a news release from the parish, Bishop Cheri “has a great interest in music, especially Gospel music, and has contributed articles to books on the topic. His testimony is 'My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection' (2 Cor 12:9).”

In more than 40 years as a priest, Bishop Cheri has served as pastor of parishes in Louisiana and Tennessee. He was a campus minister at Xavier University, New Orleans, and Quincy University in Illinois. In Chicago, in New Orleans, and Belleville, Ill., his ministry focused on Catholic high schools.

Bishop Cheri studied at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, and in 1978 was ordained for that archdiocese. He later followed his call to become a Franciscan and for more than 25 years has been a member of the Sacred Heart Province, based in St. Louis.

He is the episcopal moderator for the Catholic Campus Ministry Association, the episcopal moderator for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Black and Indian Mission Office African American Newsletter, and the convener of the African American Bishops. He has served on the bishops’ Subcommittee on Black Catholic Worship.

The Church of the Transfiguration is at 25225 Code Road, Southfield. For more information, contact the parish office at (248) 356-8787.