Compass: Tornadoes damage area churches

A heating unit lies in the parking lot of the St. Mary site
of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Kaukauna April 11
after a tornado touched down April 10. At least 160
homes in Kaukauna were damaged in destroyed.
(Patricia Kasten | For The Compass)

KAUKAUNA — "Nobody died and nobody was injured."

That's how Fr. Jerry Pastors of St. Katharine Drexel Parish expressed local sentiments in the aftermath of a confirmed EF-1 tornado striking the southwest part of Kaukauna April 10.

The priest thought a little more and said again, "It was amazing that nobody got hurt." The tornado damaged or destroyed at least 160 homes in Kaukauna. Also damaged was the St. Mary site of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, including two school buildings, the rectory/office and the roof of the 1898 church.

A bingo game was in progress in the church basement when the tornado struck and players' cars in the parking lot were damaged. A heating unit from the school roof was torn off and tossed into the same parking lot. However, no one inside the church was hurt.

"It was probably the safest place (to be) — in the basement of the church," Fr. Pastors said.

On the same property is the headquarters for Elizabeth Ministry International, housed in the former St. Mary convent. It lost its back porch, storm doors and garage door, several windows and trees.

Two volunteers normally live on-site, but both were away at the time, according to co-founder Jeannie Hannemann.

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