“It is a day of reflection, and traditionally, a day of fasting, prayer, and penance,” the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland said in a statement.
CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Guardians play their home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field this week, the game also falls on Good Friday.
With baseball being synonymous with hot dogs, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is asking the faithful to refrain from eating meat “on this most holy Friday of Lent.”
Here’s the full statement 3News received from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland regarding the home opener on Friday, April 3:
There is no more poignant day of the year for Catholic Christians than Good Friday. It is a day when in a solemn and somber way, we remember the Lord’s death for the sake of our salvation. As it has been for centuries, Good Friday marks the day that Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross to atone for humanity’s sins. It is a day of reflection, and traditionally, a day of fasting, prayer, and penance. Without the darkness of Good Friday, we would not have the joy of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
While we wish the Cleveland Guardians a very successful home opener on Friday, April 3, we cannot grant a dispensation to the practice of abstaining from meat for Catholics attending the baseball game on this most holy Friday of Lent.
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland made the same request during the 2022 home opener against the San Francisco Giants, which also took place on Good Friday.
WKYC is your station for the 2026 Cleveland Guardians home opener with extended coverage of the game starting at 1 p.m. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m.