CNA Staff, Apr 8, 2020 / 13:00 pm
A Catholic church in the Diocese of Greensburg was among the buildings heavily damaged by a tornado in western Pennsylvania early Wednesday morning.
Much of the roof of St. Mary of Czestochowa church was blown off during strong winds and heavy rains as a tornado touched down in New Kensington at 1:19 in the morning, according to the National Weather Service. About 15 minutes before the tornado, at 1:06 a.m., the Pittsburgh International Airport recorded winds at 75mph, which is the highest-ever recorded thunderstorm wind gust at that location.
Fr. Michael Begolly, the pastor of St. Mary's and its partner parish St. Joseph, said he was "devastated" upon seeing the damaged roof on Wednesday morning.
Begolly told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he thought the winds "really sounded like a train" and that he was praying for the safety of everyone in New Kensington.