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By John Surratt
Vicksburg’s landmark was one of those who were killed by the tornado on Dec. 5, 53. St. Paul Catholic Church was built in 1849 at the intersection of Walnut Street and Crawford Street. The 104-year old church in Vicksburg was badly damaged by the tornado as it moved through the city.
Marie Renaud was eleven years old when the incident occurred in 1953. She recalled that there was an enormous hole in roof, and interior damages. She said that, “Ofcourse, no one was allowed in, but around the altar, there was some damage.” People could take a marble piece from the Communion rail when the church was demolished. The church’s pews were taken to another church, she said. She said that she did not know anything else that had been damaged inside. A Vicksburg Post report from a week or so after the storm stated that the tornado damaged the church roof and adjacent rectory. Father Flynn was listening to confessions when the roof collapsed above the confessional. According to the article, “there were several parishioners present at the time.” All of them were able to escape injury because they left through the door of the sacristy. The article stated that the meeting room and altar boys’ section of the church at the back were destroyed, while the windows of the church had been damaged and some were blown out. The church’s organ was also damaged, as was the balcony. Due to damage, St. Paul’s Pastor Monsignor Daniel J. O’Beirne moved Mass into the St. Francis Xavier Academy’s auditorium. Renaud said that the only vivid memory he had was the fact that he lived over a store owned by his father. The next day (after the storm), we walked to Mass, but there wasn’t a church. You couldn’t enter. It was off limits; you couldn’t get in.
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