By Paula Graham
Catholic Herald correspondent
People of many faiths gather to give thanks after tornado
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Fr. John Anderson greets Gert Collier during aprayer service at Our Lady of Sorrows. The Sept. 3 event was an opportunity for the people to give thanks for their safety following the Labor Day tornado. Collier is a member of St. Anthony Parish in Tony. (Photo by Paula Graham) |
SUPERIOR --Despite an 8 p.m. curfew and limited access into the city of Ladysmith, more than 200 community members attended an ecumenical prayer service at Our Lady of Sorrows Church on Tuesday, Sept. 3. They came to give thanks for the safety of Rusk County residents and to ask for God's blessings on those who lost homes and businesses in the F3 tornado that struck Rusk County on Labor Day.
Area pastors Jeff Pedersen and Dick Klabunde of Hope Lutheran and Glen Flora Lutheran Churches; George Groves, Faith United Methodist Church; and Linda Shearer, Bruce Federated Church UCC/UMC joined Fr. John Anderson in conducting the service. Anderson said he marvels at the amount of clean up accomplished in a matter of hours. "I'm not hearing people ask why. I've heard how. How can we fix this? We don't have to know the why. Walk around this town. The attitude of people shows us that God put others here for us."
Shearer prayed for all the people in the Ladysmith community, as well as those working together to clean up and rebuild. "We ask blessings on those who have lost their buildings, for those who mourn this day. Comfort them, wrap your arms around them. May the world look upon us and see the power we draw from you to work together in harmony and peace." She reminded the congregation that "buildings have been destroyed, lives changed, yet the community of Ladysmith has grown. Rusk County isn't buildings, it's people."
Pedersen offered words of encouragement. "We are almost at the anniversary of 9-11. We saw common, ordinary people becoming extraordinary heroes. We have experienced 9-2, the destruction of our community as a result of a powerful storm. As we have worked side by side, I've seen common people become heroes among us. We will rebound. Let us turn to God and one another and make ourselves an even stronger community. With God's help, we can do it."
Among those in attendance was Amanda Bryant, 17, who came to give thanks. Bryant was walking on Miner Avenue in the commercial district of Ladysmith just minutes before the tornado struck. "I was thinking, hmm, a storm is coming. I ran to a friend's apartment. We ducked and covered up. After it was over, I ran outside to help people. I'm still shocked. I'm here to pray for all those injured or who lost stuff or were affected by the tornado. And to thank God I'm alive and my friends and family are safe."
Susan Fitzpatrick and daughters Megan Harris, 5, and Katie Harris, 9, greeted worshippers at OLS. She heard about the prayer service on the radio and went to the church after spending the day helping friends cut trees, cart limbs, dig glass and pick up roof shingles. Fitzpatrick knows first-hand about the fallout from tragedy. She and her family have experienced two house fires, one that burnt their home to the ground. "We've seen so much trouble. Nobody knows how much it does to a family. How much can a couple take? Faith has really helped us."
According to Fitzpatrick, the fallout lasts a long time. "First there is the loss of things. You get over it, though I still miss letters from my father, baby books, things you can't replace. Then the isolation sets in. Families need to meet to share their stories to avoid the fallout." Fitzpatrick said she enjoyed what each minister had to say. "I got the chance to worship with a group, which strengthens your resolve."
Klabunde told the congregation that Jesus, "who preached the Sermon on the Mount and taught us to pray the Our Father wants us to know that we are children of God and to trust that our heavenly father still cares for us." Pastor Groves offered the closing prayer and asked God to continue to reveal his presence among us, to reveal himself as healer, provider, shepherd and ever-present help. "Bless us and make us a blessing to those we help tomorrow."
During the service, Anderson had asked participants to greet those sitting around them and check on their welfare. In his closing remarks, he returned to the theme of community cooperation. "This town will never be what it was, but the future holds much for us. I believe it. Look at how we're working together. I believe the sunshine of today is God smiling on us saying job well done. Keep going."
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002