Ep 2.62: New Parishes and the Great Tornado of 1896

This episode follows Archbishop John Joseph Kain through the early years of his leadership as St. Louis continues to grow rapidly with new parishes in both rural Missouri and the city’s expanding neighborhoods. Monsignor and Teresa highlight the founding of St. Barbara’s and several mission parishes, showing how priests built communities from scratch—often before a resident pastor could be assigned. The discussion takes a dramatic turn with the story of the devastating Great Tornado of 1896, which tore through South St. Louis, Lafayette Square, and the riverfront, killing more than 140 people and damaging 40 churches, including St. Peter and Paul. The episode closes by noting how disaster reshaped the city’s landscape and even altered the future cathedral that Archbishop Kain had hoped to build.