Prayer Service Celebrates Reopening of Catholic Churches in Cleveland

By Deb Lee
Newsnet5
April 18, 2012

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/prayer-service-to-celebrate-reopening-of-catholic-churches-in-cleveland





[with video]

CLEVELAND - A candlelight prayer service was held Tuesday night on the steps of St. Wendelin Church, one of 12 closed Catholic churches that will soon reopen.

Bishop Richard Lennon said Tuesday that he will not appeal the decrees that reversed his closing of the churches.

"It's time for peace and unity in the Diocese of Cleveland," he said.

Parishioners from St. Wendelin were joined by members of other closed parishes who also fought to keep their church doors open.

"We're all Catholics and we have to stick up for each other," St. Casimir parishioner Joe Feckanin said. "We're all part of the same body and when one of us is hurt, all of us are hurt."

As the choir stood on the church steps and sang, both the young and the old held lit candles and wondered when they will be able to gather inside again.

There's no word on when those churches might start reopening. Bishop Lennon, who must find priests for them all, said it could take up to a couple of months.

But St. Wendelin parishioner Jim Stracensky says a lesson has been learned from all of this.

"Prayer works," he said. "There's always hope."