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St. Stephen's seventh annual motorcycle blessing and ride draws more than 70 participants

| 02 Jul 2018 | 03:25
    Photos by Roger Gavan St. Stephen’s pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, assisted Knights of Columbus member John Mac Donald, blessed each of the bikes individually.
    Photos by Roger Gavan St. Stephen’s pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, assisted Knights of Columbus member John Mac Donald, blessed each of the bikes individually.
    Before the ride and after a brief general blessing, Father Micciulla, assisted by members of the Knights of Columbus, blessed each of the bikes individually.
    Before the ride and after a brief general blessing, Father Micciulla, assisted by members of the Knights of Columbus, blessed each of the bikes individually.
    From left, St. Stephen’s pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, Event Chair Lisa Kevins, Father Angelo Micciulla and members of the Knights of Columbus, John Mac Donald and Dr. Dennis Scharfenberger.
    From left, St. Stephen’s pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, Event Chair Lisa Kevins, Father Angelo Micciulla and members of the Knights of Columbus, John Mac Donald and Dr. Dennis Scharfenberger.
    On Saturday, June 30, Father Angelo Micciulla (on right behind police escort), former parochial vicar at Warwick’s RC Church of St. Stephen the First Martyr, joined a formation of over 70 motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Warwick Police, on a 40-mile ride through local country roads.
    On Saturday, June 30, Father Angelo Micciulla (on right behind police escort), former parochial vicar at Warwick’s RC Church of St. Stephen the First Martyr, joined a formation of over 70 motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Warwick Police, on a 40-mile ride through local country roads.
    Some of the motorcycle enthusiasts only came for the blessing but most, like Dr. Dominick Berlingieri and his daughter Maria, 14, riding in a side-car, joined the formation for a scenic ride through the Town of Warwick.
    Some of the motorcycle enthusiasts only came for the blessing but most, like Dr. Dominick Berlingieri and his daughter Maria, 14, riding in a side-car, joined the formation for a scenic ride through the Town of Warwick.

WARWICK — On Saturday, June 30, Father Angelo Micciulla, former parochial vicar at Warwick's Church of St. Stephen the First Martyr and now pastor of Holy Family Parish in Staten Island, joined a formation of more than 70 motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Warwick Police, on a 40-mile ride through local country roads.
Micciulla is also the chaplain of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Shamrocks Motorcycle Club, an organization open to all United States law enforcement officers, and many of its members joined in the ride.
The weather, a heat wave, was much warmer than usual but as Warwick Police Lt. Thomas Maslanka note: "At least we won't be riding at parade speed."
Maslanka was joined in leading the parade by Officers Mike Kearns and Vic Rivera,
The popular event was also supported by members of the Warwick Knights of Columbus and the Warwick Volunteer Fire Department.
Micciulla, who followed the police escort closely, had already traveled that morning from Staten Island to Warwick on his Victory Cross Country Tour machine.
Before the ride and after a brief general blessing, St. Stephen's Pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, and Micciulla, assisted by two members of the Knights of Columbus, Dr. Dennis Sharfenberger and John Mac Donald, blessed each of the bikes individually.
Some of the motorcycle enthusiasts only came for the blessing but most, like Dr. Dominick Berlingieri and his daughter Maria, 14, riding in a side-car, joined the formation for a scenic ride through the Town of Warwick.
The well-planned route, designed for safety, ended with a lunch at sponsor Pennings Orchard and Farm Market.
And everyone who participated also received a free T-shirt, featuring a painting of an eagle and the names on the back of the sponsors for this year's event, designed by artist and Event Chair Lisa Kevins.
- Roger Gavan