Not only did the Cleveland Indians host the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 23 for the last regular season home game at Progressive Field, the ballpark also opened its gates early for 1,200 fans celebrating a pre-game Mass as part of Catholic Family Day.
Father Bob Stec from St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick was the celebrant. Members of parishes throughout the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland and across Ohio were greeted as they entered the Family Deck for Mass by Father Stec and staff members from Northeast Ohio Catholic magazine and the diocese.
Just before the St. Ambrose choir began singing the entrance hymn, pitching coaches from the Indians and pitchers from the Red Sox came out from bullpen warmups to toss baseballs to the youth sitting in the first few rows of section 309 for Mass.
During his homily, Father Stec reviewed the past week in Cleveland sports, noting that the Cleveland Browns broke their losing streak with a victory over the New York Jets.