Fr. Ference noted that one “young man” had prayed night prayer for the first time this month during the initiative, at St. John Cantius parish in Cleveland. The man attended a second night of prayer at St. Michael the Archangel parish in Cleveland, and is now interested in joining RCIA, he said.
The nine-day prayer initiative ended on the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Each night consisted of 45 minutes of night prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours.
Ference told CNA that many participants were introduced to night prayer for the first time. “Many of the participants had not prayed the Liturgy of the Hours before, and most had never prayed night prayer nine nights in a row,” he said. “People enjoyed the brevity and simplicity of Night Prayer and they also enjoyed visiting different churches – beautiful ones at that.”
Ference raised the nine pastors who “were so very willing” to offer their parishes for public prayer.
“We probably could have given them more time and more instruction and done more advertising, but I only started this new assignment on Jul. 12, so I think when we try it again working up to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception we’ll have worked out most of the wrinkles,” he said.
Some of the participating parishes brought in 40 to 50 people a night, Ference said. “There are 185 parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland, and they are all very different, so it makes sense that the turn-out at each parish would look a little different.”
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