Religion Briefs for Feb. 4, 2012

New Mormon leaders named in Baton Rouge

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has new leaders for its Baton Rouge Temple and missionary work.

Severia Baunchand is the new president of the Baton Rouge Temple, which services church members throughout Louisiana, as well as parts of Mississippi and Alabama.

Jimmy Michael Wall, retired publisher of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, will serve as the new president of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Mission.

Baunchand, of the church’s Zachary Ward, Denham Springs Louisiana Stake, was serving as a counselor in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple presidency.

A retired Exxon-Mobil supervisor, he and his wife, Betty Jean Wright Baunchand, the new temple matron, have served in several leadership roles for the church.

He was born in Batchelor to Ben Sr. and Elizabeth Washington Baunchand. She was born in Baton Rouge to Dunk and Dorothy Mae Brown Wright.

Wall is married to Constance Mae Smith Wall. They are members of Heughs Canyon Ward, Salt Lake Cottonwood Stake and have each held a variety of leadership roles with the church.

He was born in Price, Utah, to Clettus Patrick and Edna Hanson Wall. She was born in Logan, Utah, to Delmont King and Velva Lee Stokes Smith.

Conference picks Wesley as president

The Rev. Lee T. Wesley, pastor of Plymouth Rock Baptist Church in Plaquemine, has been elected president of the Iberville Parish Ministers’ Conference.

He brings 24 years of pastoral experience to the post as well as service as a vice moderator and moderation for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge. He will be installed as conference president during a service at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Plymouth Rock Baptist Church, 58830 Iron Farm Road, in Plaquemine.

Cenacle retreats lead into Lenten season

Cenacle Retreat House, 5500 St. Mary St., Metairie, is offering many retreat opportunities to help participants prepare for Lent and take them through the Lenten season.

The schedule includes:

• Daring the Dream: Faith, Friendship and Forgiveness, Feb. 24-26, with the Rev. Joseph Nassal, as presenter.
• The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, Feb. 29-March 2, with the Rev. Peter Callery.
• Walking with Thomas Merton, March 16-18, with the Rev. Keith Hosey.
• Lent Puts Our Life in Perspective, March 21-23, with the Richard O. Buhler.
• Lenten Day of Prayer: Drawing Close to Jesus with Mary at the Cross, March 29, with Sister Kathy Scott.
• Elemental Christianity: Embracing the Way of Air, Fire, Water and Earth, March 30-April 1, with the Rev. Philip Chircop.

For information about these events or other Cenalce programs, call [phone], ext. 225.

Compiled by Advocate staff