Annual bike blessing draws hundreds
Published 2:01 pm Saturday, March 26, 2016
- Rylee Bacon, left, assists the Rev. Sinclair Oubre during the 21st Annual B.J. Stelly Bike Blessing and Fundraiser at the Port Arthur International seafarers’ Center on Saturday. Mary Meaux/The News
Bikers from across southeast Texas turned out for one of the biggest annual motorcycle events in the area on Saturday.
Hundreds of motorcycles of all sizes and brands lined a portion of Procter Street and the Port Arthur International seafarers’ Center on Houston Avenue for the 21st Annual B.J. Stelly Bike Blessing and Fundraiser.
The Rev. Sinclair Oubre sprinkles Holy Water on motorcycles during the 21st Annual B.J. Stelly Bike Blessing and Fundraiser at the Port Arthur International seafarers’ Center on Saturday.
Mary Meaux/The News
The Rev. Sinclair Oubre, who heads up the Apostleship of the Sea, traded his priestly vestments for blue jeans, dark shirt and riding vest complete with numerous ride pins that chronicled his many journeys.
Joe Oates, who is a member of the Patriot Guard Riders and Knights on Bikes, left, speaks with the Rev. Sinclair Oubre before the bike blessing ceremony.
Mary Meaux/The News
“Fast Freddy,” left, and the Rev. Sinclair Oubre discuss Freddy’s Honda CB500 prior to the bike blessing on Saturday.
Mary Meaux/The News
As he walked through the crowd greeting riders he was greeted by Joe Oates, a Patriot Guard rider and member o Knights on Bikes before stopping to admire a 1975 Honda CB500 owned by “Fast Freddy.”
Nearby Mike Bryant of Atlanta, Georgia chatted with “Snow Man” of Port Arthur, a Vietnam Veteran from 1969-1970 and Herman Columbus of Fannett, a Vietnam Veteran from 1967-1968.
Mike Bryant, left, of Atlanta, Georgia, speaks with “Snow Man” and Herman Columbus during the 21st Annual B.J. Stelly Bike Blessing and Fundraiser at the Port Arthur International seafarers’ Center on Saturday.
Mary Meaux/The News
Columbus has been to the bike blessing in the past and said it means a lot to him.
“I really means a lot because I’m seeing guys who made it back home,” Columbus said. “So many of us didn’t make it back. Some of my best friends didn’t make it back and not a day goes by that I don’t think about them.”
Inside the Seafarers’ Center several members of the Mavericks Motorcycle Club Cow Creek Chapter chatted together. “Ghost” explained there were three members of the Cow Creek Chapter there and five from the Jefferson County chapter on hand.
Riders bow their heads in prayer during the blessing of the bikes on Saturday.
Mary Meaux/The News
Oubre soon gathered the riders toward the front of the building where he began the traditional prayer. He spoke from John Chapter 14 in which Jesus comforted the Disciples — “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”
The Rev. Sinclair Oubre offers prayers during the 21st Annual B.J. Stelly Bike Blessing and Fundraiser at the Port Arthur International seafarers’ Center on Saturday.
Mary Meaux/The News
Following the Gospel reading Rylee Bacon assisted Oubre as he walked among the bikes sprinkling Holy Water.
Soon the sounds of engines revving were heard as a majority of the riders left to take part in a Yahtzee Run.
Hundreds of motorcycle riders prepare for the 21st Annual B.J. Stelly Bike Blessing and Fundraiser at the Port Arthur International seafarers’ Center on Saturday.
Mary Meaux/The News
Funds from the event go to take care of the 23,000 seafarers who come to south Jefferson County every year.
The seafarers’ center is located at 401 Houston Ave., at the corner of Houston Avenue and Procter Street. For more information, go to http://www.paseafarercenter.org
E-mail: mary.meaux@panews.com
Twitter: MaryMeauxPANews
