Faithful gather after deadly twisters

? Easter Sunday prayers were offered for victims of deadly storms that hit western Arkansas and the Southeast last week with signs of damage done by a tornado evident throughout St. Agnes Church.

A stained-glass window gaped open in broken spots and rainwater leaked down the back of a display showing Christ being led to the cross. Even among the bread wafers offered for Holy Communion, a small twig stuck out — a remnant of the tornado Thursday night that blew through the Catholic parish and the rest of Mena, killing three people, injuring 30 more.

Despite the devastation in the small community, Bishop Anthony Taylor said he had no reservations in proclaiming that “God is good.”

“Out of tragedy, really powerful things can occur,” Taylor said. “God can use anything for his purposes.”

Residents of Rutherford County in central Tennessee also were cleaning up Sunday from Friday’s storms, which left two dead, seven hospitalized in critical condition, and more than 40 injured, according to officials.