the huge paintings embraced its altar under a trio of roman arches , then moved behind its side altars - to st. joseph and the blessed virgin mary - and down the sides to the very back , where , on the far right side , stood the old wooden confessionals , each a little tripartite wooden house with booths for penitents to kneel on either side of a central place where the priest sat as he pulled back the wooden panel that covered the screen through which he could hear the confession .