• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Drone footage taken Feb. 6, 2023, shows a freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Some 50 cars from the train derailed the evening of Feb. 3 near the Pennsylvania border. No injuries were reported following the crash, which sparked a massive fire that continued to burn Feb. 4. The derailed train was carrying toxic substances and three months later still face "a lot of uncertainty" about their surroundings. (OSV News photo/NTSBGov handout via Reuters)

Parish helps East Palestine residents amid ‘a lot of uncertainty’ after toxic train wreck

May 19, 2023
By Gina Christian
OSV News
Filed Under: Environment, Feature, News, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

More than three months after an environmentally hazardous train derailment, Catholics in an Ohio town are still facing “a lot of uncertainty” about their surroundings, while working to support their community, a pastoral worker told OSV News.

“The concern is what’s in store for them down the road,” said Patty Zocolo, administrative assistant at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in East Palestine, Ohio.

The church was within a mile and a half of a 38-car Norfolk Southern derailment Feb. 3, which sparked a massive fire that damaged an additional 12 cars. Of the 20 cars carrying hazardous materials, 11 derailed, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB is pointing to an apparently overheated wheel bearing as a possible cause of the derailment.

Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, and the surrounding community gather at a town hall meeting Feb. 15, 2023, to discuss safety and other environmental issues they were facing following a train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals Feb. 3. Months later residents continue to cope with the aftermath. (OSV News photo/Alan Freed, Reuters)

No injuries or deaths resulted from the derailment, which was “a miracle,” Father David Misbrener, pastor of both Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Jude Parish in Columbiana, Ohio, told OSV News hours after the derailment.

However, the environmental damage from the wreck has left residents frightened and uneasy, while raising serious concerns over rail transport safety in general. Days after the derailment, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said it was “absurd” the train had not been deemed a “high hazardous material train” by the state’s public utilities commission, and called on Congress “to take a look at how these things are handled.”

The derailment has been discussed in both the U.S. Senate and House, and the NTSB and the Environmental Protection Agency continue to investigate. DeWine said in an April 20 update that Ohio EPA officials have so far removed about 12.8 million gallons of liquid wastewater and almost 32,000 tons of soil from East Palestine, with 6,800 tons of soil pending removal.

Although DeWine said ongoing testing has not revealed any significant levels of contamination, “water is still the issue,” Zocolo told OSV News. “People are still seeking out donation sites where they can pick up water. They test the water quite regularly and are finding it’s just fine, but the people still don’t want to drink it.”

Instead, residents are “opting for purified or bottled water,” said Zocolo, who has spearheaded parish-based relief efforts that have drawn donations from near and far.

“We actually had a family from Cincinnati, Ohio, that had absolutely no connection with East Palestine, but bought 140 water purifying systems that use reverse osmosis,” she said. “Our parish distributed them throughout the community.”

Zocolo said she has been “amazed” by the generosity of those who have enabled the parish to aid the community.

“Probably that first month, there wasn’t a day I didn’t go to work and find packages piled up at the door — deliveries from Walmart, Sam’s Club and Amazon without even a message (from senders),” she said.

In addition, “people emptied out their pantries,” dropping off everything from cleaning supplies and paper goods to perishables, she added.

Parishioners “have been absolutely wonderful” in making sure the donations get to their destination, said Zocolo.

Whether a small bundle or a shipment on a semi truck, Zocolo can “put the call out to (the parish’s) different apostolates, especially the Knights of Columbus, and they pass on the word. Within a short period of time, parishioners show up to man our distribution center. They’re there for the community.”

Parishioners have even welcomed fellow area residents into their own homes — including Zocolo and her family, who hosted a husband and wife for several days after the initial mandatory evacuations from the area closest to the derailment.

“He had just had major surgery, and I said, ‘Come stay with us,'” she said, adding that families with young children are more reluctant to return home because “they’re concerned about the long-term effects (of the derailment) on their children.”

Amid the fears and frustration, parishioners’ faith remains intact, Zocolo said.

“Something so horrible can turn out to reveal good,” she said.

Read More Environment

God’s dazzling creation

Pope visits papal villa, former summer residence in Castel Gandolfo

Pope pledges prayers for China, marks Laudato Si’ anniversary

U.S. bishops urge young people to ‘lead the way’ on climate crisis

With Laudato Si’, Pope Francis firmly planted ecology into Catholic social teaching

Pope Francis lived up to his namesake’s love, care for creation

Copyright © 2023 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Gina Christian

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Religious sisters played role in pope’s formation in grade school, N.J. province discovers

  • With an Augustinian in chair of St. Peter, order sees growing interest in vocations

  • Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

  • Indiana Catholic shares story of his life-changing bond with friend who is now Pope Leo

  • Washington Archdiocese announces layoffs, spending cuts, restructuring

| Latest Local News |

OLPH’s fourth eucharistic procession, set for June 21, ‘speaks to the heart’

Franciscan Sister Francis Anita Rizzo, who served in Baltimore for 18 years, dies at 95

Hundreds gather at Rebuilt Conference 2025 to ‘imagine what’s possible’ in parish ministry

Radio Interview: Dominican sister at Mount de Sales shares faith journey from astrophysics to religious life

Mount de Sales Dominican sister shares journey after pursuing science, finding faith 

| Latest World News |

Prayers continue for release of abducted Nigerian priest who recently served in Alaska

Kyiv’s historic cathedral damaged in Russian air strikes

Vatican bank reports increased profits, charitable giving

UN secretary-general meets Pope Leo, top Vatican officials

Call out to Jesus for healing; he will hear you, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Prayers continue for release of abducted Nigerian priest who recently served in Alaska
  • Kyiv’s historic cathedral damaged in Russian air strikes
  • Vatican bank reports increased profits, charitable giving
  • UN secretary-general meets Pope Leo, top Vatican officials
  • Call out to Jesus for healing; he will hear you, pope says
  • Movie Review: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
  • Yes, it’s our war, too
  • OLPH’s fourth eucharistic procession, set for June 21, ‘speaks to the heart’
  • Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en