Parishes remain strong one year after devastating tornadoes
April 17, 2025
by Ryan Johnson
In 2024, the National Weather Service recorded 124 tornadoes in Iowa breaking a state record.
Two communities in the Diocese of Des Moines were significantly impacted by tornadoes in spring 2024. In late April, the town of Minden was damaged by a tornado. The town is home to parishioners who belong to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Neola, which is just a few miles from Minden.
Nearly a month later, the town of Greenfield was hit hard by a powerful EF4 tornado that knocked out power to the entire city and killed four residents. Wind speeds were estimated at nearly 185 mph when the tornado went through the area.
Catholic priests in both communities had never experienced anything like a tornado in their homelands. It wasn’t so much the power and devastation of the tornadoes that surprised them — it was the positive response afterward within the communities, the Diocese of Des Moines, and across the state.
Minden Community Rallies After Tornado
Father Julius Itamid is the administrator at St. Patrick Parish in Neola. A tornado outbreak occurred on Friday, April 26, 2024, resulting in numerous tornadoes throughout southwest Iowa. As the EF3 tornado approached Neola and Minden, parishioners called Father Itamid and encouraged him to take shelter, knowing he likely had never experienced a storm of this magnitude.
The day after the tornado, the priest made his way to Minden to check on his parishioners. What he saw when he got to Minden was heartbreaking.
“Words cannot describe what I saw there and how I felt,” said Father Itamid. “Minden was empty, in the sense that houses were destroyed, roofs blown off, debris was everywhere, and fallen trees were on homes. I was shocked. I don’t pray to see another tornado in my lifetime.”
Father visited with parishioners in Minden and offered them encouragement in the midst of the storm’s damage. People from surrounding towns like Neola and Underwood came to Minden to help with the cleanup efforts.
“When our brothers and sisters are affected in this way, people get out of their comfort zone to offer help,” said Father Itamid. “I loved the spirit of the people who came to help.”
Greenfield Parish Provides Relief
Like Father Itamid, Father Philip Bempong was unaware of just how devastating a tornado could be. Pastor of St. John Catholic Church in Greenfield, he experienced a similar situation to Father Itamid, when a tornado went through Greenfield on May 21.
Once the tornado passed and the all clear was given, parishioners called Father Bempong and asked if he would open the church as a place of refuge for the entire community. The church and parish hall were spared any damage from the storm. Father Bempong immediately went to work, opening the church for people to come and take shelter.
City officials made it a priority to restore power to the church. That was a godsend for everyone.
“We spread a message that the Catholic Church is open if anyone needs help,” said Father Bempong. “We encouraged people to come to the church to get something to eat and something to drink. Residents came with their cell phones to charge them and communicate with other people; to let them know they were okay.”
For days after the tornado, the parish served breakfast, lunch, and supper, with the support of food donations from local businesses, including Hy-Vee and Fareway.
It wasn’t long before donations were pouring into the church. People were bringing water and food, among other things. Within three days, the pastor had to stop the donations because there was no more room in the parish hall or the church.
“St. John Catholic Church in Greenfield became the face, so to speak, of tornado relief,” said Father Bempong. “We collaborated with organizations like FEMA to continue taking care of people in Greenfield after the tornado. Seeing how the parishioners and the community came together, it was the Holy Spirit at work.”
Diocesan Response
After both severe storms impacted towns in the Diocese of Des Moines, Bishop Joensen contacted the pastors to check on their safety and the parishioners. Priests who previously served the Greenfield parish contacted Father Bempong and offered their prayers.
“Bishop Joensen came to our parish on Saturday after the tornado and concelebrated Mass, and quite a few people from the community joined us,” said Father. “Bishop Joensen’s presence was fulfilling and touching. We saw our good shepherd who came to the rescue of his sheep who were in danger.”
The Diocese has also created a Pastoral Response Team to enhance pastoral care.
Father Itamid and Father Bempong hope and pray this year won’t be as active for severe weather as 2024. When the storms come, and they likely will, both priests are ready to respond to their parishioners and provide spiritual guidance and support afterward.