A year has gone by since a tornado cut through a Gallatin County town and one of its churches. About 140 homes and businesses in Ridgway, Illinois were damaged by that storm. St. Joseph's Catholic Church sustained the most damage. Friday night, church members packed the gym to sing, pray, and remember the storm that left its mark on their community.
It looked like a picture from World War II. A piece of history destroyed by an EF-3 tornado.
"It was devastating, because it was just wiped out and all that was left was the front door and the altar. It was very emotional," Becky Abell said.
Church members say it seems like it was just yesterday that a tornado ripped through Ridgway, knocking down St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Father Steven Beatty was in his home next to the church, when the ceiling fell down. He says the storm is still with him a year later.
"Well the other day, a week ago, I was packing up for an overnight, grabbed a duffel bag and there's broken glass in the bottom of it. I'm just thinking, is this ever going to be over? Is it ever going to be gone?" Father Steven Beatty said.
Life changed a lot that day. What was once a place that served as a stable rock, came crashing down. But the storm never touched the marble altar, which was brought over from Italy. The alter was saved and is now being stored until it can be used when the church re-builds at the same location. Today, the stone foundation is all that remains.
"There's just a scar on the ground there, and every time I see it, how ever many hundreds of times that's been, I can't say I'm use to it. I don't think I ever will be. But some day soon we'll look at that spot and we'll see something new and beautiful, and that will put a smile on our face," Father Beatty said.
Father Beatty says he's looking forward to building a new church. It will be called St. Kateri's Catholic Church, and will be the main church for Gallatin County. Father Beatty says right now, they are in the design phase, and they hope to start construction early next year. Fundraising officially kicked off Friday night.
It looked like a picture from World War II. A piece of history destroyed by an EF-3 tornado.
"It was devastating, because it was just wiped out and all that was left was the front door and the altar. It was very emotional," Becky Abell said.
Church members say it seems like it was just yesterday that a tornado ripped through Ridgway, knocking down St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Father Steven Beatty was in his home next to the church, when the ceiling fell down. He says the storm is still with him a year later.
"Well the other day, a week ago, I was packing up for an overnight, grabbed a duffel bag and there's broken glass in the bottom of it. I'm just thinking, is this ever going to be over? Is it ever going to be gone?" Father Steven Beatty said.
Life changed a lot that day. What was once a place that served as a stable rock, came crashing down. But the storm never touched the marble altar, which was brought over from Italy. The alter was saved and is now being stored until it can be used when the church re-builds at the same location. Today, the stone foundation is all that remains.
"There's just a scar on the ground there, and every time I see it, how ever many hundreds of times that's been, I can't say I'm use to it. I don't think I ever will be. But some day soon we'll look at that spot and we'll see something new and beautiful, and that will put a smile on our face," Father Beatty said.
Father Beatty says he's looking forward to building a new church. It will be called St. Kateri's Catholic Church, and will be the main church for Gallatin County. Father Beatty says right now, they are in the design phase, and they hope to start construction early next year. Fundraising officially kicked off Friday night.
