Parishioner Finds Her Spiritual Home at St. Luke’s

Wilma Desselle was born in Westwego and raised in a Southern Catholic family. She attended 12 years of parochial school, but her faith journey took a turn in early adulthood.

“After a few personal religious experiences, I became disillusioned with my church,” Desselle said. “I began a time of no structured religion. I still believed in God, but I didn’t have a spiritual home.”

In 2008, she visited St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for the first time for a special family occasion; her grandson’s baptism.

“I was so impressed with how welcoming the church felt,” she said. “Little did I know that this was just the beginning.”

In 2015, after retiring and moving from LaPlace to Baton Rouge, Desselle was offered a job as parish secretary at St. Luke’s.

“That was when I truly fell in love with this church,” she said. “I had the privilege of seeing all the good that goes on behind the scenes; what the clergy, the ministries and the congregation do in ways that many people don’t get to see.”

One moment that stood out to her was the response to the 2016 flood in Baton Rouge.

“Not only did everyone reach out to affected church members, but a volunteer group was organized to go out into the neighborhoods and help anyone in need—no matter who they were,” Desselle said. “That made a deep impression on me. I realized that St. Luke’s was not just a place for worship and prayer, but a place to give of oneself.”

On August 27, 2023, Desselle was officially received into the Episcopal Church.

“That day has special meaning for me,” she said. “I was welcomed as an official member by everyone.”

Since then, she’s become active in Bible study, Education for Ministry and many worship services.

“All of it has helped fill the void I had in my life for so long,” Desselle said. “I’m looking forward to continuing my spiritual journey at St. Luke’s, with such a loving and comforting church family.”

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