The way the skill is worded (see below, emphasis mine) seems to make it clear that the bell falling does the immediate damage, and then the line of damage goes out from there.
Focuses a wave of light that crushes enemies for 215% weapon damage as Holy, followed by an additional 45% weapon damage as Holy to all enemies in a line.
I do not know if the radius of the initial damage is known. It could be that you are pointed in slightly the wrong direction, or that you are actually running slightly past the enemies before triggering the ability. It's also possible that, due to latency, you or the monsters are not exactly where you appear to be on your monitor.
But I think based on the description and animation that the initial damage is intended to be at melee range, under the dropping bell.