Bikers pedal for Bisikleta Simbahan 2023

THEY came to profess their faith, and they came pedaling on their bikes.

More than a dozen Kagay-anon bikers gathered at the Saint Agustine Metropolitan Cathedral on April 6 to participate in the Bisikleta Simbahan, a different take on the traditional Bisita Iglesia performed by Catholics.

Holy week is when the Stations of the Cross, a 14-step devotion by Catholics to commemorate Jesus Christ’s last day on earth in human form, is performed.

Started in 2009 by Myx Bikers bike club, they annually perform the 14 Stations of the Cross by visiting churches around Cagayan de Oro City on their bikes.

This activity was temporarily halted during the 2020-2021 pandemic and was only resumed last year.

This year, instead of the usual 14 churches, their route will take them to the House of Hope Foundation, Inc. in Upper Palalan, Barangay Lumbia of this city where they handed a cash donation collected from the participants.

“Grateful ko nga naka visit sila, ug naghatag pa gyud ug donation para sa pasyente diri nga nawad-an ug pag isip,” shares Renz Gines, a nurse working in the facilty.

“Hopefully maka visit sila pa balik diri,” Gines added.

As described on its website, The House of Hope Foundation, Incorporated is a charitable institution established to shelter individuals who are mentally challenged. It is a custodial psychiatric care facility owned by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City, an apostolate under the Ad Extra Ministries.

“In 2009 we started with this Bisikleta Iglesia-Prayer Fasting Almsgiving Ride with 108 cyclists from different clubs. Na stop lang one year when pandemic came,” Henry Rosalejos, Bisikleta Simbahan organizer said.

“We hold this yearly cyclists’ Way of the Cross to have at least a sacrifice of prayer and penance as a cyclist. In this way, we also share with our least brothers and sisters after the Station of the Cross,” Rosalejos said.

They plan to resume the Stations of the Cross to 14 churches in next year’s Holy Week.