Special collection held for Granite Falls storm victims

On Tuesday evening, July 25, the town of Granite Falls was struck by a tornado. Reports of hundreds of homes destroyed or damaged and one fatality prompted Bishop Raymond Lucker, bishop of the New Ulm diocese, to call for a special emergency parish collection throughout the diocese, and to immediately send to St. Andrew’s Church, $10,000 from the Diocesan Emergency Assistance Fund.

Bishop commented, "We want to assist individuals and families affected by the tornado and a special collection would strengthen the emergency fund so that we can provide further assistance to the people of Granite Falls, and to assure that we stand ready to help people who face similar tragedy."

Members of the Granite Falls community suffered extensive damage during the flooding along the Minnesota River in 1993 and again in 1997.

Donations to the Diocesan Emergency Assistance Fund should be sent to the Catholic Pastoral Center, 1400 6th St. N., New Ulm, MN, 56073.

Bishop Lucker noted that organizations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are better equipped to distribute supplies. "In the past, he said, "people have been very grateful to receive cash assistance, without a lot of red tape, to help meet short-term emergency needs. This is something we can provide, along with our prayerful support and neighborly assistance."