The 25th annual Blessing of the Bicycles will take place at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Saturday, May 6 at 9 a.m.
The event is held inside the church, where hundreds of cyclists from different faiths (including those who are not religious) gather while Father Patrick Malloy says “a few kind words and then sprinkle[s] our bikes with Holy Water.”
The ceremony is only an hour, so those who wish to attend are encouraged to show up at 9 a.m. sharp.
There will be a moment of silence to remember cyclists who have passed in the last year. “Everyone will then ring their bicycle bells in celebration of the cycling season to come.”
The Blessing of the Bicycles has been a beloved service at the Cathedral for decades. The unique service is open to everyone who gets around town on a bike, scooter, skates, unicycle, or other form of human-powered vehicle.
Here’s a short clip from a previous Blessing of the Bicycles:
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street). To learn more, visit this page.
Oh yes, Lord Jesus!
And fodder, please bless my derailleur, my stem and my very uncomfortable seat.
And hold back Satan from guiding me into that suddenly open cab door!
Is this how churches claim they serve a greater purpose in our neighborhoods?
S. S.
Why do you dis this positive, life-affirming event? Cheer up!
Dear Lord, may these bicycles observe traffic laws, stay off sidewalks, and stop for red lights. Amen.
St John the divine, what? no one ever finishes the sentence.
Out of the way, unbelievers! This bike is on a mission from God (who does not recognize red lights)
A lot of the riders are in need of salvation. Or reading lessons.
For starters, how about praying for a NYC law that a bike rider (esp on an e-bike which are really unlicensed motorcycles) who injures a human while riding on a sidewalk or a residential walkway, blowing a red light, or while traveling the wrong way on a one-way street etc. would be guilty of assault of varied degree based on the injury caused; and if working for a delivery service/restaurant etc. at the time of assault, that the employer, not the rider, is 100% liable for civil damages regardless of where there business is incorporated. Currently, these are treated as “accidents” but there is nothing accidental about an adult man or woman riding on a crowded NYC sidewalk. it is deliberately done to save a few seconds without regard to our safety. . Should be the exactly the same penalty as if you were driving a car on a sidewalk and caused the same injury or property damage. c.f. the horrific injury to a neighbor Julliard professor on a sidewalk last fall with no consequences at all for the perp.
They gonna bless these bikes and their idiot masters to start obeying the traffic laws? Praise be.