Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.

Celebration at the new building location for All Souls' Mission
 at St. Claude and Caffin in the former Walgreen Drugstore,
Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans

The Reverend Shola Gideon Falodun, Assisting Priest/Missioner, 
and the 9th Ward Mission

Father Shola Falodun has been associated with Grace Church since 2002. Through the sponsorship of Grace Church, Fr. Shola  received his permanent U.S. residence status or Green Card in May 2006. 

Starting in August 2006, Fr. Shola began working in cooperation with the Diocese and the Church of the Annunciation to establish a new mission endeavor in the devastated Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. This mission is called "All Souls" and began its life in September 2006. The congregation is currently worshiping in borrowed space, but hopes to begin to build its own church by the end of the year. The All Souls' Mission joined Grace Church at the Palm Sunday service. At this service, Bishop Jenkins announced that in September each Episcopal Bishop in ECUSA, attending the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans, will be bringing a gift for this new congregation. Grace Church is very proud to share in this new effort with Fr. Shola.

Father Shola came to New Orleans since 2002, to do extended studies in Clinical Pastoral Education. Shortly after his arrival, he became connected with Grace Church and served in various capacities. Fr. Shola is Nigerian from the Yoruba region, and was a priest of the Church of Nigeria of the Diocese of Ijebu. He served under license in the Diocese until 2006 when he transferred into the Episcopal Church and became canonically resident in the Diocese of Louisiana. His training was at the Immanuel College of Theology and at the University of Ibadan, receiving degrees in 1987. His thesis during his theological studies was in indigenous African sacred music. Ordained deacon in 1987 and priest in 1988, he has served in various parishes in Nigeria and as a chaplain to the Bishop (similar to Canon to the Ordinary in the U.S. church). He also participated in a parish exchange program with the Anglican Church of Canada and the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is also an avid soccer player. From a family of prominent Anglican Churchmen, Fr. Shola works among the African immigrant population in the New Orleans area, many of whom are from Anglican backgrounds but do not find a home in the Episcopal Church when they emigrate to this country. In September 2004, Fr. Shola began a service for African Immigrants. The African Anglican Ministry at Grace Church worshiped on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Since Hurricane Katrina, this service has been suspended, because much of that congregation relocated elsewhere in the country.  In the immediate aftermath of the storm, he worked in hurricane relief for the diocese and doing Sunday supply work. Married, Fr. Shola is the proud father of two girls and a boy.  In June 2007, his wife, Stella, and his three children joined him permanently in New Orleans. 

E-mail: sholafalodun@hotmail.com
Website: www.allsoulsepiscopalchurch.org