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Riding by faith
Seminarian turns RAGBRAI into pilgrimage

By Rosemary Bernth
Globe staff reporter
(Email Rosemary)

Some riders use RAGBRAI as a way of exercising or sightseeing across Iowa. But one rider sees something deeper in the week-long bike ride – an opportunity to grow in faith.

Justin McCarty, a seminarian from St. Joseph Parish in Hartley, said he wants to make it a pilgrimage, calling it the Tour De Ecclesia.

“The first three days are in our diocese and I thought we get to go through all these little towns that have Catholic churches,” he said. “From doing Totus Tuus, I know that a lot of them are beautiful and I don’t think most people realize how blessed we are to have these beautiful, quaint little churches in our diocese.”

McCarty, who just finished his spirituality year in Denver, Colo., said he plans to stop by each of the churches in the diocese to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life and attend Mass daily. There will also be opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration and Liturgy of Hours, he added.

“I wanted to make the ride more spiritual this year because I have been thinking of it ever since I entered the seminary,” he said. “I think that this ride is a great thing and by incorporating our faith into it, we show people that we don’t compartmentalize our lives and our faith. By doing this pilgrimage, I can bring a group of people together who have that same desire to live their faith.”

At 12, McCarty rode in RAGBRAI from Rock Rapids to Spencer, a total of 89 miles, on his first day. He said he has been going on bike rides with his family for years and sometimes finds biking as a way of being closer to God.

“In general, biking brings me closer to God because I am out in nature and my spirit soars when I am surrounded by his beautiful creation,” said McCarty. “The wind in my face rushing past makes me want to praise God endlessly and to marvel at his greatness.”

He said he also sees RAGBRAI as a good way of seeing new people and sharing experiences.

“I feel more alive with energy when I am out riding and meeting all the wonderful people on RAGBRAI,” said McCarty. “It is amazing the conversations you can have with people, even though you have just met on this ride. I hope that I can share what I have learned in the last five years of seminary with the people on the pilgrimage.”

McCarty said he invites Catholics of all ages and vocations who have registered for RAGBRAI to join him on the pilgrimage. The Tour De Ecclesia is based on Bishop R. Walker Nickless’ pastoral letter Ecclesia Semper Reformanda – “to renew our reverence, love, adoration and devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament,” strengthen catechesis, foster faithful families, evangelize and promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

“I think the ride brings out the best in Iowa culture,” said McCarty. “But at the same time, there are people drinking too much at the beer tents and doing other inappropriate things, which makes it hard for parents to shield their children from it. We have a lot of good Catholics that like to ride bikes. So why not mix that with our faith?”

Tour De Ecclesia starts July 24 in Sioux City and ends July 27 in Clear Lake. For more information, contact Justin McCarty at (712) 255-1637 ext. 45 or jmccarty@sccathedral.org.