Wieging’s ministry to families in the wake of the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crash. A copy of The Michigan Catholic newspaper from Aug.

Wieging refused to leave, helping organize and ministering to a support group of families that formed shortly after the crash. “He said, ‘I’m here for you.’ And he was. Mary Parish in Monroe and the brother of Michael Zanger, who died in the Flight 255 crash along with Michael’s fiancée, Hollins Langton. “My parents actually met him the night of the plane crash,” recalled Tony Zanger, a member of St. Wieging comforted them, keeping vigil into the early morning hours the next day, holding candles, consoling grieving families, praying with those on the ground and listening and crying with friends and relatives.

Wieging didn’t hesitate.Īs the families of 156 people who perished desperately awaited word about their loved ones, Fr. When another chaplain phoned to ask for help at the scene, Fr. The pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in River Rouge and chaplain of the Wayne County Sheriff’s department had heard about the deadly crash of Northwest Airlines Flight 255, and he knew he was needed. James Wieging was already en route to Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Priest who ministered to families after Michigan’s 1987 plane crash, dug for survivors in wake of 9/11 remembered for heroic compassionĮCORSE - As the news of Michigan’s worst air disaster in history began reaching the ears of area residents the evening of Aug.

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