Florida Catholic | Blessing Of The Bikes

Blessing of the bikes

Published: 02.22.08

Redemptorist Father Peter Sousa blesses motorcyclists at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat and Spirituality Center in Venice on Feb. 10 during the second annual Blue Knights of Florida XVIII bike blessing. The Blue Knights includes retired and active police officers who enjoy riding motorcycles.
Courtesy of the Diocese of Venice

VENICE | More than 100 motorcyclists gathered Feb. 10 for the second annual Blue Knights Florida XVIII bike blessing at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat and Spirituality Center. The Blue Knights include active and retired law enforcement officers from Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The bikers rode together from Sarasota to Venice, then circled the retreat center grounds as Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Redemptorist Father Peter Sousa blessed the cyclists and cycles with holy water. The bishop also led the group in prayer.

“With the extra risk when you’re driving a motorcycle, the blessing of the bikes gives you a feeling of a little extra (protection) when you’re out there,” said Blue Knights Florida XVIII member Anthony Marone.

The turnout at the event doubled from last year. Blue Knights members from Tampa and Port Charlotte, as well as other motorcycle enthusiasts, also attended the event, which featured a barbecue and live music.

Blue Knights Florida XVIII is a brotherhood of law enforcement officials, said Vincent Spadaro, motorcycle blessing chairman. The organization holds group rides and raises money for local causes. Proceeds from the bike blessing benefited the retreat center in Venice and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch, a nonprofit, residential child care and family service organization in Bradenton.

Blue Knights chapters can be found throughout the country and all over the world. Spadaro was involved with a Blue Knights group in Long Island, N.Y., where thousands of people participate in annual bike blessings, he said. The local chapter hopes to continue drawing more motorcyclists to the bike blessing each year.

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Blessing of the bikes

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