‘Nine Nights of Night Prayer’ begins Aug. 7

Nine churches across the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland will welcome all who want to join in praying the Night Prayer of the Church 8:15-9 p.m. for nine consecutive evenings, Aug. 7-15.

Father Damian Ference, who recently was appointed to the new position of diocesan vicar for evangelization, said Nine Nights of Night Prayer is an opportunity to engage people across the eight-county diocese in prayer.

Participating parishes are:

• St. Michael the Archangel Parish, 3114 Scranton Road, Cleveland **
• St. Mary Parish, 242 N. State St., Painesville
• St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 527 Beall Ave., Wooster
• St. Peter Parish, 35777 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville
• St. Augustine Parish, 204 Sixth St. NW, Barberton
• St. Sebastian Parish, 476 Mull St., Akron
• St. John Cantius Parish, 906 College Ave., Cleveland
• St Luke Parish, 1212 Bunts Road, Lakewood
• Holy Spirit Parish, 4341 E. 131st St., Garfield Heights

Father Ference said Night Prayer is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, by which the people of God sanctify the day by continual praise of God and prayers of intercession for the needs of the world.

“‘Nine Nights of Night Prayer’ is a unique opportunity to open up nine of our beautiful churches in the evenings for an experience of beauty, community, Scripture and tradition,” Father Ference added, noting that Pope Francis reminds us that prayer “appeases anger, sustains love, multiplies joy and instills the strength to forgive.”

He invited everyone to participate, either at the same church or by visiting different churches on different nights.

Click here for additional formation and resources.

** In Spanish