Springfield, Mo., May 24, 2021 / 17:19 pm
A Catholic parish in Missouri this week held a memorial service for those killed ten years ago when a massive tornado struck Joplin, a city of 50,000 people in southwest Missouri near the Kansas and Oklahoma borders.
St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Joplin held a memorial service May 22 for the victims of the tornado, remembering in a special way the five parishioners who perished in the disaster.
“I appreciate all the prayers for each one of these families, as well as all communities of faith that suffered here in Joplin,” Father Joe Weidenbenner, pastor at St. Mary’s, said at the memorial service.
Bishop Edward Rice of Springfield-Cape Girardeau led those in attendance in praying a rosary, and later celebrated a memorial Mass at the new church building, located about 4 miles west of the old site.