Father Jeff Belger, priest director of Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City, records a video blog during RABGRAI last month.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) dipped its tires in southeast Iowa this year, offering Catholic communities in the Diocese of Davenport an opportunity to support participants in a variety of ways. “The hospitality shown was phenomenal,” said Father Jeff Belger, priest director of Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City. The Burlington-native and his brother, Joe, were among more than 18,000 cyclists participating this year. It’s a good opportunity to get in shape and see Iowa alongside thousands of other riders, Father Belger said.
The weeklong ride began July 21 in Glenwood and headed east, reaching the Davenport Diocese three days later. St. Anthony Parish in Knoxville served spaghetti and meatball dinners to about 600 cyclists, with proceeds supporting the parish’s building fund. “Many people said it was the best spaghetti they’d ever eaten,” said Amanda Welsh, parish secretary. About 200 people camped out on the property.
The Belger brothers joined the route on day four as cyclists pedaled through Lovilia and Albia. Many Catholics from St. Mary Parish-Albia, St. Peter Parish-Lovilia and St. Patrick Parish-Georgetown served as RAGBRAI volunteers, said Sharon Crall, the Albia parish’s pastoral associate. St. Patrick Parish-Georgetown drew interest from several crews driving along the support route and the parish ended up giving five or six impromptu tours.
St. Alphonsus Parish in Mount Pleasant served fish dinners to RAGBRAI participants July 26. The parish also offered overnight lodging to a group of riders from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
That evening, cyclists dined and slept in Ottumwa. Members of St. Mary of the Visitation Parish-Ottumwa helped parishioners at St. Patrick Parish-Ottumwa serve chicken breast and pork chop meals to about 150 riders. The meal raised money for youth ministry but, more importantly, brought parishioners from multiple Catholic communities together, said Father Joseph Sia, pastor of the Ottumwa parishes and St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield.
“I think that was the biggest success that we had,” Father Sia said. “There were parishioners from both parishes representing the different communities, including many youth, who participated in the event by preparing and serving meals, bussing tables, directing and entertaining guests.” The Micronesian Catholic community provided entertainment. The Belger brothers and their dad, Bill, who participated in a supportive role, enjoyed the meal and appreciated staying in the rectory overnight.
Cyclists rode to Mount Pleasant on the penultimate day. Father Belger recorded his weekly Newman Center video blog while riding out of Ottumwa. “We had a good ride yesterday and we ask (God) that today will be good and safe,” he said in th video. That evening, St. Alphonsus Parish in Mount Pleasant hosted a fish dinner fundraiser for general expenses and encouraged riders to make a financial donation to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. The parish also hosted a group of riders from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who stayed at the church when Mount Pleasant served as an overnight stop in 2009, said office manager Barb Brown. The parish’s parochial administrator, Father Ross Epping, invited the Belgers to lodge at the rectory.
The Belgers and other RAGBRAI cyclists finished the ride in Burlington on July 27. Father Belger has now completed two full and five partial rides; he is most motivated to participate when it ends in his hometown, as it did this year. “It’s a wonderful time to be able to be with literally thousands of other (riders) but not have to worry about traffic,” he said, adding that he is grateful to everyone who offered support along the way.
