Our Lady of Fatima hosts biker blessing

VERNON — More than 70 motorcyclists and passengers, sporting American flags, POW flags, and other items of personal pride, rode their various Harleys, Hondas and even a Russian military motorcycle into the parking lot of Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church on Breakneck Road in Highland Lakes on Sunday.

Every year motorcyclists from towns and cities throughout the North Jersey area gather at the church for the annual “Biker Blessing.”

Members of North Jersey Chapter 218 of the STAR Touring & Riding organization and members of the Gold Wing Road Rider Association (GWRRA) were eager and grateful for the blessing. Both are international motorcycle riding organizations that promote fun and safe motorcycle riding.

Monsignor Robert Carroll, better known as “Father Bob,” welcomed everyone with a brief liturgical message and said a mass, during which Holy Communion was offered to all who attended.

This was followed by participants and Father Bob reciting the “Motorcycle Prayer,” which was handed out before the service. The prayer thanks God for these wonderful machines and for the joy of riding them, and asks God’s guidance to make them safe, conscientious, and courteous riders. The prayer was followed by Father Bob blessing each motorcycle.

— Photos by Chris Wyman