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Parishes prepare for bikers riding through communities

By Rosemary Bernth
Globe staff reporter
(Email Rosemary)

This year, some parishes along the route will be providing RAGBRAI participants food for the body, as well as the soul.

A few of the churches in the diocese will not only be selling food as a fundraiser, but also offer Masses for riders who wish to attend.

Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools already has an event set for Saturday, the day before the ride across Iowa begins.

According to Father Patrick Walsh, president, Mass will be held at 5 p.m. July 24 at Memorial Field in the grand stands. This will also include a blessing for the bikers.

“It’s actually convenient for the people camping there,” he said. “We’re having it right there where people are. That way, they don’t have to get dressed up or change clothes to go to the service.”

Hot dogs and pop will be sold at the stadium, the proceeds going to the schools.

Day One – Sioux City to Storm Lake (68.5 miles)
On July 25, volunteers of St. Michael Parish will be up early to sell food to those passing by the St. Michael Center of Holy Cross School.

From 4 to 9 a.m., volunteers will be selling baked goods and breakfast burritos made by the parishioners. These volunteers will include confirmation students and their parents, religious education board members and catechists. Proceeds will be going to the parish.

Another breakfast stop along the route is in Kingsley, where the local Knights of Columbus and youth will sponsor a Belgian waffle breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. that Sunday at the Kingsley community center.

“Every year we have a youth fundraiser through Dad’s Belgian Waffles out of Algona,” said Jamie Sitzmann, a 4th degree Knight. “We talked with Dad’s in the past and said that if RAGBRAI ever came through, whatever the first town is out from the start is where they like to set up because the people are hungry and they want to have a break and something to eat. We’re the midway point between Sioux City and Storm Lake.”

Breakfast includes all you can eat waffles and sausage, along with water, milk, juice or coffee. The proceeds of the event will go towards youth activities such as Camp CAYOCA, NCYC and Steubenville.

The last stop of the day is Storm Lake, where St. Mary Parish has planned a few activities for the evening.

There will be a Mass at 4 p.m. at the church and two options for food – the school’s athletic boosters will be hosting a spaghetti dinner in the gym while the Knights of Columbus will have hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and also spaghetti in their hall. They will also have a funnel cake booth.

Father Bruce Lawler, pastor of St. Mary’s, said a number of people have been requesting space on the church property to pitch their tents for the night.

Day Two – Storm Lake to Algona (79 miles)
Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Pocahontas will have two groups selling food along the town’s main street on July 26.

The Knights of Columbus will have a booth selling turkey breast sandwiches while Pocahontas Catholic School will sell baked goods in another booth.

The historical society of Sts. Peter and Paul Church will have the former church open to visitors to explore its history and past parishioners.

At the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, there will be opportunities for tours and pictures.

“We’re planning on having six or seven guides on the grounds and as cyclists get off their bikes and walk through the grotto, we’ll have extra people on hand,” said Rhonda Miller, the grotto’s director. “We’re looking to hopefully get some life-size cutouts of Father Louis Greving and Father Paul Dobberstein, the two priests who built the grotto.”

Miller said the special preparations have been made to pique the interest of the riders so they could come back when they have more time to spend at the grotto.

“Most people that come to the grotto and visit spend an hour or two hours at least, whereas realistically the people on RAGBRAI will probably spend 10 minutes, get on their bikes and go,” she said.

As for the Knights of Columbus in West Bend, they will partner with the public school in a food booth downtown. They will be making turkey legs, pork cutlets, rib eye steak sandwiches and French fries. Proceeds will be split between the Knights and the school.

In Algona, St. Cecelia Parish will have a food stand set up at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds, selling sandwiches and drinks, with the proceeds going back to the parish.

Day Three – Algona to Clear Lake (59.9 miles)
St. Cecelia’s will be offering a Mass at 7 a.m. July 27 for RAGBRAIers to attend before they leave Algona.

Wesley is expecting riders to come by from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Catholic Daughters of St. Joseph Parish have organized a food stand selling baked goods such as pies, butter braids and cinnamon rolls. The proceeds go to the organization.

The church and cemetery have been listed as points of interest for the bikers to visit while in town. The church is constructed with gothic architecture, statues and murals, while the cemetery includes a grotto erected by Father Dobberstein, who also designed West Bend’s grotto. Parishioners will be in the church to welcome any visitors.

Father Randy Schon will celebrate Mass at 6:30 a.m.