In Wake of Storm, Sacred Place Endures

"The day the tornado hit was just like any other ordinary day. But by day's end, Main Street was all gone."
-Arlene Oberle, parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Greensburg, Kansas

Families at St. Joseph Church were going about their business as usual on May 4, 2007, when an EF-5 category tornado struck. Within minutes, the storm took away most of the town and killed 11 townspeople.

"I wasn't really scared during the storm and just kept praying Our Fathers and Hail Marys," said Arlene Oberle, who hid with her husband and three young daughters in the basement closet of their home. "Later, when we drove around town, I felt like God had watched over so many of us."

The powerful tornado hit St. Joseph Church head-on. "All that was left standing were the cross, bell tower
and statue of St. Joseph," said Ed Schoenberger, another long-time parishioner.

The storm cut a wide swath but did not destroy their experience of Church. In no time, the community began to pull together, rebuilding their lives and their parish.

New Church Shows Faith in Action

St. Joseph is a small congregation, and after the storm parishioners were concerned about whether they would rebuild. "The diocese made it clear we needed a strong presence of Catholics in Greensburg," said Schoenberger. "We serve several communities and are the only Catholic church for 30 to 40 miles around."

Through the Building the Foundation grant program, Catholic Extension plays an important role in helping communities like St. Joseph Church recover in the wake of a disaster or catastrophe. In fact, the presence of the Church is critical in times of crisis that cause severe disruption to the lives of the faithful. Although not a ‘first-responder' relief agency, funds from Catholic Extension help mission parishes and dioceses with their basic needs by re-establishing services, repairing facilities and restoring essential operations.

At St. Joseph, a Catholic Extension grant provided a trailer to serve as a temporary church amid the ruins. Rev. Dermot Tighe, a visiting priest who celebrated Mass in the trailer, told the parishioners, "I'm proud Catholic Extension stepped up to the plate. Even before the storm, I gave to Catholic Extension, and this is why."

As one of the first new structures in town, the trailer church brought families together to comfort each other, mourn and pray. "We were scattered far and wide and needed to be together," said Oberle. "Our church let us do that."

The modular unit served as St. Joseph Church for nearly two years until the new church, also built in part with funds from Catholic Extension's Building Churches grant program, was constructed. The parish celebrated its first Mass on Christmas Eve 2008, and will dedicate the new St. Joseph's on Sunday, May 3, 2009, two years after the tornado.

"It's not fancy or elaborate, but it's big enough to include much-needed classroom space and a gathering area," said Oberle. "It's beautiful."