Priests across the Diocese of Cleveland spent three hours, 5-8 p.m., on Wednesday, March 15, in the confessionals at every church in the diocese for the fifth annual Evening of Confession. For the first time, the neighboring Diocese of Youngstown also participated.
?This is definitely something that I think we should continue to do,? said Father Sean Ralph, administrator of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. ?What a great witness to the magnanimity and accessibility of God?s mercy, a point that our Holy Father has made one of the hallmarks of his pontificate and his preaching.?
As in previous years, a number of people who have been away from the sacrament for some time were drawn to confession that night. Father Ron Wearsch, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Avon Lake, who was featured in a television ad for the event, said he heard the confessions of people who reported being away from the sacrament for many
