As Father Stephen Willard was
preparing to celebrate the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass at a filled St. Patrick
Church in Washington Nov. 17, the most powerful tornado to hit Illinois
since 1885 was taking aim at neighborhoods on the western edge of this
community of 15,000.
With sirens blaring, worshippers were instructed to go to the middle of
the church. Father Willard went outside to hurry inside people who were
just arriving.
"At one point I looked up and saw the funnel cloud and tornado to the west of us," said Father Willard.
It was one of many tornadoes that swept through several Midwest states
that day, spawned by a strong late-season storm system. At least eight
people were killed; six of them lived in Illinois.
The power went out, the storm passed, and Father Willard offered a
"quick Mass" that included prayers for anyone who might be affected.
Text messages received by parishioners throughout the church were the
first indication that homes had been damaged, but the scope of the
tragedy was realized only when Massgoers began trying to make their way
home.
Hundreds of homes in Washington were obliterated by the EF4 twister,
while a second tornado the same morning caused extensive damage in
nearby Pekin, making 75 homes uninhabitable. One person was killed in
Washington, and hospitals in the region including OSF St. Francis
Medical Center in Peoria treated more than 100 injury victims.
The tornado that hit Washington was reportedly a half-mile wide. It
started about two and a half miles southeast of East Peoria, and stayed
on the ground for 46.2 miles, according to the National Weather Service,
striking East Peoria, Sunnyland and Washington before moving into
Woodford County, west of Roanoke toward Minonk. It finally dissipated
two miles east of Long Point, in Livingston County.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn toured the area Nov. 18 and pledged government
support. He declared seven counties as state disaster areas.
"It's amazing how many families, young and older families, have lost
everything," said Father Willard, noting the home of the school's
principal, Doreen Shipman, was among those severely damaged. In all, the
homes of 50 St. Patrick parishioners were badly damaged or destroyed as
of preliminary reports.
Father Willard and Father Johnathan Steffen, parochial vicar, spoke to
The Catholic Post, the newspaper of the Peoria Diocese, the day after
the storm from a makeshift relief station established at the parish
school. Meals were served and persons in the community were donating
clothing and food supplies.
"In spite of all the things people have lost, it's very clear the people
in our parishes haven't lost their faith, hope and love," said Father
Steffen, who was celebrating Mass at St. Monica Church in East Peoria
when the storms hit, knocking out power there as well. "They've really
poured out their support."
People throughout the region shared photos and needs via social media. A
Facebook page, "Washington IL Tornado Recovery," was being followed by
171,000 people two days after the storm.
The Washington parish established an account to assist families in need:
St. Patrick Church Tornado Relief Fund, which was accepting checks made
payable to the fund and sent to: South Side Bank, Attn: Brad Mahony,
P.O. Box 328, Washington, IL 61571.
Area Knights of Columbus councils were purchasing gift cards for
distribution to needy families, and offers to assist were coming from
schools and parishes around the Diocese of Peoria and nation, according
to Sharon Weiss, diocesan superintendent of schools and former principal
of St. Patrick School, Washington.
"The community camaraderie has been amazing," said Karolyn Aydt, a St.
Patrick parishioner whose husband coaches at the school. The day after
the storm, she was distributing food, and tearful hugs, to those coming
to the school for relief.
"First they feel shock, then they're just thankful to be alive," Aydt
said of affected families with whom she has spoken. With block after
block reduced to unrecognizable rubble, "you see this in Oklahoma or
Joplin (Missouri), but never ever would I think to see it in my
hometown," she said.
The parish priests have heard the same stories.
"People say, 'It's just stuff. Thank God we still have our families,'"
said Father Willard. "We're blessed to say our church is still here, as
well as our school and rectory." As of Monday, only minimal property
damage to church-owned properties in the Diocese of Peoria had been
reported.
In Ohio, another tornado associated with the same weather system that
hit Illinois destroyed St. Barbara Church in the farming hamlet of
Cloverdale, 68 miles southwest of Toledo.
Father Jerry Schetter, pastor, was helping with the cleanup Nov. 19. He
had been in the rectory at Immaculate Conception Church in nearby
Ottoville, where he also is pastor, when the storm hit.
"I'm just wondering what to do next," he said.
The storm swept into the village from the southwest, twisting the roof
off the 55-year-old A-frame structure and destroying the adjacent
rectory, but leaving the parish hall unscathed, Father Schetter said.
The priest was thankful that no one was in the church when the storm
struck. He said people from the strongly Catholic community often visit
the church throughout the day to pray.
"Nobody got injured or hurt. The mayor was pro-active and got a lot the
people into the town hall. This is a very rural, very poor, low-income
community," Father Schetter said.