Priest keeps Lower 9th Ward community moving forward

From Louisiana-

The Rev. Lonell Wright is on his third career. Wright, 71, once was an executive at a major pharmaceutical company. Then, he was the owner and operator of five New Orleans McDonald’s restaurants. Now, he’s an Episcopal priest at a small church in the Lower 9th Ward with a big mission in mind.

“Our goal is to change the lives of the families we touch. Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty,” Wright said.

All Souls Episcopal Church meets in a converted Walgreens drugstore at 5900 St. Claude Ave., a place known by many as “St. Walgreens.” On Sunday, it’s a worship center. During the week, it’s a community center providing stringed instrument lessons, volunteer coordination for community projects, parenting classes and tutoring.

A recent math camp highlighted the ministry’s seven-week summer program, with volunteers from ministry partner St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church of Dallas.

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http://www.nola.com/religion/index.ssf/2011/08/priest_keeps_lower_9th_ward_co.html