Sister Cheryl Porte, MSC

Sister Cheryl Porte, MSC was born September 2, 1950 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  She died at the Team Gleason House, part of St. Margaret’s at Mercy Care Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 17, 2020.  In her battle with ALS, we saw the courage and the faith that were characteristics of Cheryl’s life.

Sr. Cheryl was preceded in death by her father, Herbert Porte Sr., her mother, Lelia Porte and her brother Herbert Porte, Jr. She is survived by her siblings, Thomas Porte (Suzie), Karen Morales, Patricia Perera, and Marilyn Gregoire (Paul), as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Sr. Cheryl entered the Marianites of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 28, 1968 and professed perpetual vows on August 16, 1975.  Sister received her baccalaureate degree in elementary education from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans, Louisiana.  She obtained a Masters degree in Adult Faith Formation; Sacred Scripture from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas and completed her Doctoral Studies in Historical Theology from St. Louis University. As a Marianite, she ministered as a junior high teacher in schools in Louisiana including New Orleans, Morgan City and Opelousas.  Other ministry positions that Sister Cheryl held include adult education and religious education at Our of Holy Cross College and pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of  New Orleans. During her final years of ministry, she was a member of the adjunct faculty of Theology of St. Louis and Maryville Universities in St. Louis, Missouri.  

Sacred Scripture and Mary, the Mother of Jesus were among her interests.  Her Master’s thesis was The Word of God in Human Living: the Proper Approach to Sacred Scripture. Pontmain, Prophecy and Protest: A Cultural-Historical Study of Nineteenth- Century Apparition is the title of the book published at the time she was awarded the Ph.D.. She had a love for Our Lady Undoer of Knots and shared the prayer with many groups.

We are grateful for the gifts Sr. Cheryl shared with others in the life of her family, the Marianites of Holy Cross and the Church. As she enters eternal life, we rejoice with her and ask that she continue to pray for us that we may appreciate ever more deeply the infinite love that our God has for each of us.  The Marianites of Holy Cross are grateful to the staffs of Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care and St. Margaret’s at Mercy for the professional and compassionate care that was given to her in her final year of life.

To celebrate her life, a private graveside service was be held at the Marianite Mausoleum in New Orleans, LA.  There will be a Memorial Mass at a later date.