4 Dioceses Cycling 4 Christ

June 13, 2023

Cycling graphic with dates for Masses

As RAGBRAI riders look for food to replenish their energy after a long day’s ride, they’ll also be able to find spiritual food to sustain their spirits.

The four dioceses of Iowa will offer Mass at several of the communities along the RAGBRAI ride through the state in July in the spirit of the National Eucharistic Revival. The four dioceses communications professionals collaborated to create a map highlighting Catholic Masses along the route as well as a listing of confessions, adoration, tours, meals and other amenities sponsored by Catholic entities.

The map and information are available at lumenmedia.org/ragbrai-2023.

“We hope our ‘4 dioceses cycling 4 Christ’ initiative generates enthusiasm among the riders, the communities they ride into and our parishes,” said Barb Arland-Fye, editor of The Catholic Messenger of the Diocese of Davenport. “The initiative is one response to Pope Francis’ call for our Church to go out, to listen to and accompany people who are not sitting in our pews.”

“As riders and support teams focus on developing their physical health during RAGBRAI, they also have the opportunity to nourish their spiritual well-being through the reception of the Eucharist. This allows them to find rest and seek spiritual fulfillment alongside their physical endeavors,” said John Huynh, who helped coordinate this project for the Diocese of Des Moines.

Bishop Walker Nickless of the Diocese of Sioux City will kick off the spiritual element of the ride by presiding at a welcome Mass Saturday, July 22 at 4 p.m. at St. Boniface Church, 703 W. Fifth St. in Sioux City. A blessing of the bikes will be at 3:45 p.m. before the Mass.

“I am happy that we can share information with RAGBRAI riders about Catholic-sponsored events across the state of Iowa. We thank all the parishes and schools who are participating to make the event fulfilling and comfortable for our guests,” said Dawn Prosser, director of communications for the Diocese of Sioux City.

            Other Masses and Catholic highlights for the 2023 RAGBRAI event:

  • Sunday, July 23 – 9 a.m. Mass, 11 a.m. (Spanish) Mass with Father Brent Lingle at St. Mary Parish, 320 Seneca St., Storm Lake
  • Monday, July 24 – 3 p.m. Mass with Father Pat Behm, St. John Paul II Parish, St. Laurence Church, 1607 N. West St., Carroll; Confessions at 2 p.m.
  •  Tuesday, July 25 – 5 p.m. Mass with Father Kyle Digmannb, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 2210 Lincoln Way, Ames.
  • Wednesday, July 26 – 5 p.m. Mass with Bishop William Joensen at St. Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High St. in Des Moines. Also, St. Malachy in Madrid will have a Mass at 8 a.m. St. Malachy will host adoration following the Mass until noon. St. Malachy is off Highway 210 and the bikers on the "World Record" day will be going past the church.
  • Thursday, July 27 – 4:30 p.m. Mass with Father Michael McAndrew, St. Patrick Church, 900 Park St., Tama. Dinner to follow.
  • Friday July 28 – 6:15 p.m. Mass with Bishop Thomas Zinkula at St. Thomas More Church, 3000 12th Ave., Coralville.

            Events and details will be updated frequently at lumenmedia.org/ragbrai-2023 as information becomes available.