IMAGE: CNS photo/Jennifer Willems, The
By Jennifer Willems
PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) — After
riding bicycles a little more than 340 miles over five days, three young
priests of the Diocese of Peoria sailed across the Indiana state line April 28,
bringing Priests Pedaling for Prayers to a close.
“It does seem a little surreal,”
Father Tom Otto said at journey’s end. “Things like
this seem insurmountable when you begin, but maybe like life, you focus on the
short-term goals. … That makes it doable. Take one little bit at a time and
before you know it, you’ve done something pretty incredible.”
The effort to raise prayers for
vocations began April 24 when Father Otto, Father Michael Pica and Father Adam Cesarek dipped their rear tires in
the Mississippi River, which marks the border between Iowa and Illinois. They
were sent forth with the blessing of students at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in East Moline,
who lined both sides of the street outside the school to cheer them on.
Along the way, they stopped to
talk with students and parishioners at 15 schools and churches about the need
for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, as well as good, holy
marriages “from which all vocations come.”
They also celebrated Mass, took
part in Holy Hours for vocations, stopped
to pray at the Bishops’
Mausoleum in St. Mary’s Cemetery in West Peoria, and visited with people
at potluck gatherings, dinners and receptions arranged by the vocation
apostolates or Knights of Columbus councils in each area.
At most stops, they received
pledge cards from children and adults with promises of prayer, sacrifice and
good deeds to support them on the ride and ask God for an increase in
vocations.
“What’s been really neat to see
is the goodness of the people of our diocese. That’s been, for me, absolutely
the most powerful part,” said Father Cesarek, who is parochial vicar at four
faith communities in central Illinois.
“The overwhelming support we had
from each and every place we went, the joy that each place had and the excitement
that they maintained … really invigorated me and gave me an incredible hope
for our diocese,” he said.
He said the trio were inspired
by the good, holy people they encountered, including the priests of the Diocese
of Peoria, many of whom were on hand for their visits and offered them
hospitality for the night.
“There were things that
surprised us along the way,” said Father Otto, parochial vicar at two parishes
and a chaplain for students at Monmouth
College. “The fact that every school and every parish did something
different for us was a nice surprise.”
The pedaling priests found a
drumline waiting for them at Costa
Catholic Academy in Galesburg, a parade with students from St. Mary
School in Pontiac and St. Paul School in Odell walking or biking with them, and signs,
streamers and tunnels of enthusiastic students at others. When they arrived at Schlarman Academy in Danville,
near the Indiana border, students were holding a large “Finish Line” banner
they had signed.
Father Pica, parochial vicar at
three parishes in McLean
and DeWitt counties,
credits the welcome at the schools with “pumping us up and getting us ready to
go, giving us momentum to do the ride.”
That was especially important on
April 26, when the priests did their “century” ride — 100 miles in one day. In
all, they were on the road for 20 hours and 45 minutes, averaging about 17
miles an hour.
Each priest had a tough day, but
it wasn’t the same day so they were able to support and encourage whoever was
struggling. They prayed the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet and caught up with
each other when the wind was at their backs and they were able to ride side by
side.
“There’s moments of quiet, which
is all right, too,” Father Cesarek said. “There are moments of suffering out
there. I was kind of keeping in mind particular people, some of the kids in our
school who are suffering with cancer, offering that suffering for them.”
They emphasized that they aren’t
the only priests willing to suffer and go the extra mile for their people.
“There are so many priests out
there who will do anything and everything and they don’t get recognition for
it,” Father Pica said. In fact, these men prefer to remain behind the scenes.
Would they do it again?
“Ask us in a couple months,”
Father Otto said, laughing.
“Without question,” Father
Cesarek said, “we would all be open to it again, if the Lord wills it.”
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Willems is assistant editor and special
sections editor at The Catholic Post, newspaper of the Diocese of Peoria.
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