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RESERVE — The Msgr. Jean Eyraud Council 2436 in Reserve recently celebrated its 100th anniversary January 14 with a Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church in Reserve. The Mass was followed by a social hour and picture taking session before the formal banquet for 125 attendees at the KC Hall on West Seventh Street, across from the church.

The Mass was celebrated by St. Peter Pastor Reverend Father John J. Marse along with Former Pastor the Very Reverend Father Rodney Bourg of Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington, and the Very Reverend Jamin S. David, the KC State Chaplain. Assisting was the former deacon of St. Peter, Deacon Richard Abbondante.

Following the Mass, the guests enjoyed hors-d’oeuvres and beverages before feasting on a banquet meal of Caesar salad, bacon wrapped tenderloin, twice baked potatoes with shrimp, smothered green beans and bread pudding. Slices of a beautifully decorated cake with the KC emblem were later distributed.

Grand Knight Robert Beadle was the master of ceremonies. Financial Secretary Joel Ocmand introduced the guest speaker, the Past State Deputy and Supreme Board Representative Rennan Duffour of the nearby Luling K.C. Council 2409, which recently celebrated its centennial milestone.  His wife Liz accompanied him. Other K.C. state officials included the State Warden Richard Yandle and his wife Paulette from Lafayette, past State Deputy Vernon Ducote of Baton Rouge, the State Chaplain Jamin David from Albany, and the present State Deputy George Martin and his wife Donna from Broussard. The Reverend Joel Cantones of St. Hubert Church in Garyville along with Reserve native, Reverend Father Ray Hymel, Jr. also attended the reception. Other invited guests included K.C. insurance agent Matt Maurin and his family, former St. Peter deacon Abbondante and his wife Diane, and the Faithful Navigator of the Archbishop Blenk Assembly, also a past Grand Knight, Gerald Marse. The immediate former District Deputy George Becnel and his wife Debbie were also recognized.

Grand Knight Beadle awarded past Grand Knight pins to Dr. Nemour Delaneuville, Albert Hotard, Randy Aucoin, Joel Ocmand, Peter Remondet, Eric LaBranche, Melvin Weber, Gerald Marse and Garland Remondet.

All attendees received an engraved stylus pen, a bronze coin with Msr. Eyraud’s image and the K.C. emblem on the reverse side, a printed 24-page souvenir program with historical information, and a listing of all Grand Knights, as well as information on the ladies’ auxiliary history.

1963. J. Aucoin was recognized for being the oldest member of the council. At 97 years of age, Aucoin has been a member of the Msgr. Eyraud council for 70 years.
      Guest speaker Duffour presented Grand Knight Beadle with a 100 Year Anniversary Certificate signed by Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. Following Duffour’s remarks, District Deputy Marc Gonick congratulated the council for its accomplishments and Dr. Nemour Delaneuville, who traveled from Tampa, Florida, highlighted the life of the council’s founder, Msgr. Jean Eyraud, the pastor of St. Peter Church from 1916 to 1963.

The president of the ladies’ auxiliary, Sheila Oubre, expressed her congratulations to the council and highlighted their work over the years. The ladies auxiliary began in 1971 with Kathy Hotard as its president. Fern Stein was recognized as being a charter member. The ladies of the auxiliary did an excellent job in preparing the food for the social, in decorating the hall with tablecloths and centerpieces, in creating a bulletin board and window display of trophies and awards, and in providing financial assistance for the celebration.

Later, Grand Knight Beadle recognized the “paint crew” of Bob Emerson, Perry Scioneaux, Alden Bienvenu, and Melvin Weber for painting the entire hall, improving the lighting, re-hanging pictures and awards, and completing any and all general maintenance.  Melvin Weber was credited for creating an entire wall of pictures of the 40 Grand Knights who served the council during the past 100 years.

Sheldon Vice, the council chef, was recognized for his culinary skill for nearly 50 years in the council kitchen. Todd Warren provided background music with his sound system and Alden Bienvenu created a slideshow of past events and people which ran on three separate monitors.

Louisiana K.C. Chaplain the Very Reverend Jamin David closed out the ceremonies with the benediction.

The council was first organized as St. Peter Council 2436 receiving its charter on January 14, 1923 with J. O. Montegut as its first Grand Knight and 46 charter members.  Council formation was due to the efforts then of a young pastor, Father Jean Eyraud who sought to bring more men to church. Father Eyraud remained as pastor for 47 years. Following his death in 1968, the council was granted a name change to the Msgr. Eyraud Council in 1976.

Over the years the council has met at the Leon Godchaux auditorium, at the St. Peter Catholic School, at the St. Joseph Hall adjacent to the church, and since 1988 the council has maintained the rented hall on West Seventh street across from the church.

The council recently marked with a prayer service the 25^th anniversary of their Memorial to the Unborn. The council currently has 125 members serving St. Peter and St. Hubert parishes. The council has been recognized as a Star Council twice during the last three years. It distributes food baskets and grocery vouchers three times a year as well as awarding seventh grade scholarships and CYLA scholarships to high school seniors. Competitions are held to benefit the youth with soccer challenge, a free throw contest, and an essay and poster contest. The council donates to the St. John ARC and St. John Ministry of Care and conducts many other programs to benefit those in need.

Council 2436 is open to all practicing Catholic men, aged 18 and over.  The council meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by a meal and meeting at the K.C. hall on West Seventh Street in Reserve. For more information contact Grand Knight Robert Beadle at beadler@rtconline.com or Financial Secretary Joel Ocmand at jocmand@rtconline.com.