By Beth David, Editor
A total of 322 motorcycles participated in the annual Blessing of the Bikes by St. Joseph Church in Fairhaven on Sunday, 6/25/23. The bikers gathered at Fort Phoenix, rode past St. Joseph on Spring Street, then for a long ride through back roads, ending up at the Ice House in Fairhaven for food and music. In front of St. Joseph Church, Fr. Columban Crotty ret., SS.CC; and Fr. Jeremy Sabugo, ss.cc of St. Mary’s Church in Fairhaven, blessed each bike, rider and passenger with holy water as they rode by.
The gathering at Fort Phoenix had a festive air as bikers waited for the parking lot to fill up.
Derek Pelletier, 30, was on his first Blessing of the Bikes, but definitely not his first bike run, and he was joining his father Steven, who has been to “lots” of blessings.
“To support a good cause,” said the younger Mr. Pelletier.
The elder Mr. Pelletier said he attended St. Joseph School.
He likes the organized rides, he said, because he sees old friends, and meet new people.
He likes “everything about it,” he said. “It’s all good.”
Kathy and Rich Souza ride together, and have been riding for “many years,” he said.
They joined the ride “to get blessed,” said Mr. Souza.
“To get blessed and help support the school,” added Ms. Souza. “And we run into a lot of old friends.”
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- Rich and Kathy Souza pose for the local free sheet while waiting for kickstands up at the annual Blessing of the Bikes starting at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 6/25/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- A passenger records on her phone as Fr. Jeremy Sabugo, ss.cc, of St. Mary’s Church in Fairhaven uses holy water to bless her and the rider in front of St. Joseph Church on Spring Street in Fairhaven at the annual Blessing of the Bikes on 6/25/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Storm Halloran and his vavoo Ed Rouxinol hang out while waiting for the Blessing of the Bikes ride to start at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 6/25/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fr. Jeremy Sabugo, ss.cc, of St. Mary’s Church in Fairhaven uses holy water to bless a motorcycle rider and his passenger in front of St. Joseph Church on Spring Street in Fairhaven at the annual Blessing of the Bikes on 6/25/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fr. Columban Crotty, ss.cc (retired) uses holy water to bless a motorcycle rider and his passenger in front of St. Joseph Church on Spring Street in Fairhaven at the annual Blessing of the Bikes on 6/25/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- L-R: Fr. Jeremy Sabugo, ss.cc, of St. Mary’s Church in Fairhaven and Fr. Columban Crotty, ss.cc (retired) use holy water to bless motorcycle riders in front of St. Joseph Church on Spring Street in Fairhaven at the annual Blessing of the Bikes on 6/25/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fr. Jeremy Sabugo, ss.cc, of St. Mary’s Church in Fairhaven uses holy water to bless a motorcycle rider and his passenger in front of St. Joseph Church on Spring Street in Fairhaven at the annual Blessing of the Bikes on 6/25/23. Photo by Beth David.
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