Rebuild, Revive, Rejoice.  That was the motto of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Joplin, Missouri as they began to rebuild from the ground up. Their church building was completely destroyed in an EF-5 tornado that hit May 22, 2011.  The only things that survived of the church, parish center and rectory were a steel cross and a statue of Mary.

We all know that a building is just a building; the real church is the people that gather in it.  Yet, this story reminds us that our church buildings are sacred spaces.  They have a history and tell a story and provide a gathering space that is, hopefully, inspiring.  The new church is inspiring; built in the Romanesque style with beautiful arches and thick columns.  Seating 750, the new church almost double the original 400!

The tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri in 2011 was devastating.  161 lives were lost in an instant.  In the photos of the new church and school, there isn’t one person whose life has not been touched by that storm.  If you visit their  Facebook Page you can see many pictures detailing the progress as well as many pictures showing the initial devastation (if you scoll down far enough).

In addition, Here is an article that talks about all aspects of the project, not the least of which was fundraising; insurance didn’t cover everything.  This article also talks about the dedication mass held December 17, 2014, that included sealing the relics in the new altar; something all Catholic churches have.

2015 will be a year of new beginnings for St. Mary’s Catholic Church members.  Hopefully, filled with healing and joy!