St. Paul the Apostle honors three ‘MLK’ stalwarts

 
In appreciation for their “wisdom, leadership and long years of membership” at St. Paul the Apostle Church in New Orleans East, Louis Alexander, Yvonne Johnson and Yvonne Bechet were recognized Jan. 19 at the 10 a.m. Mass with the Martin Luther King award.
“The award is given to those who are exemplary in their church and community,” parishioner Julia Collins said.

Since the award began in 2008, St. Paul’s pastoral council and staff have given it to one person, but three were selected in 2014.

“These are people that have been in the church and community for so long,” Collins said. “They devote their time in ministry, and everybody is so proud of them. They are legends.”

All three cherish the recognition.

Brought her to tears
“When Father called my name, the whole church stood up,” Yvonne Bechet, 80, said, teary-eyed. “That touched me so much. The whole church stood up for each one of us.”

Each lauded the St. Paul community as a close one where everybody helps everybody. Bechet said she no longer drives, but church members make sure she has a ride to Mass and back home.

Louis Alexander, 83, was born in the parish neighborhood and said he attended Catholic Mass at Lafon Chapel before there was a St. Paul Parish. He and his family helped build the original church on the site and, using his plastering skills, he helped build the church in 1954 and then renovated the current church years later. He’s also been an usher, on the pastoral council and was past grand knight of the Knights of Peter Claver.

Church shows the way
He and  Shirley, his wife of 62 years, have eight children – all attended St. Paul the Apostle School. They were king and queen of the “55 and Faster” senior ball.

“I believe the Catholic faith teaches right and wrong,” Alexander said. “In this parish, the people are friendly.”

Yvonne Johnson, 80, has been a parishioner of St. Paul’s since 1973. She has five children, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Four of her children remain active in various ministries at St. Paul. Johnson has been a lady with the Knights of Peter Claver and can often be seen helping at church. Her family participated in the welcome ceremony of a recent October rosary at the parish.

“I enjoy coming to church here,” Johnson said. “It’s like a family. I’ve been through several issues, and they’ve prayed me back several times. When I’m sick, they watch out for Jennifer and my children. We are not strangers here. We enjoy being with each other, and I enjoy watching the children grow up in our parish.”

Award is testament to peace
She considers the award a great honor, considering the church “thought of me in the context of Martin Luther King and his beliefs,” she said. “Hopefully, I’m carrying on some of his beliefs such as non-violence.”

Yvonne Bechet’s lineage in the church and her strong Catholic beliefs can be traced to her parents. She said her father, especially, influenced her to attend Mass at St. Paul. (She was raised at St. Peter Claver Parish and attended St. Maria Goretti once she married.)

“My mother and father were very much into the Catholic religion,” Bechet said. “We would walk to confession every Saturday. The Catholic faith and my parents taught me to love God. …. I have tried to live my life in the manner they taught me.”

It was her father who convinced her to try St. Paul Parish. He was a benevolent person who was well respected.

“He was a lector and wanted me to come to St. Paul’s and be a lector, too,” she said. “When I came here (in 1978), I loved it. The atmosphere was so warm. You could feel the love.”

Bechet, who was among the first female New Orleans Police Department officers and its first deputy superintendent, has been on the hospitality committee, in the Sisters in the Spirit ladies’ spirituality group, a St. Vincent de Paul member, past president of the senior group.

Receiving the MLK award humbled her, considering she thought others were more worthy.

“But, it made me feel proud that my efforts of doing good were not in vain,” she said.  “We were recognized in our own home.”

Bechet called St. Paul “a place that’s close to heaven.”
    Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarion herald.org.