WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– Dozens of motorcyclists around the Wabash Valley made their way to St Mary-of-the-Woods on Saturday to take part in a “bike blessing” event.

Sister Paula Damiano, the co-director of the Providence Spirituality and Conference Center, said it’s become an annual tradition for the Sisters of Providence.

“Motorcyclists are really some of the nicest people we’ve met. Sister June and I, in the months preceding this event, have actually stopped at redlights and handed people the advertisement for this, and they’ve been so kind in response,” she said. “We grow every year. I think somebody invites a friend and they invite a friend. We were really surprised by the turnout given the other blessings that were happening in the community.”

The event takes place each spring as the weather gets warmer. Along with blessing the bikes, Damiano said they handed out prayer cards, among other things, and a food truck was on hand to provide lunch to the riders. 

Damiano said she hopes the event can raise awareness on the dangers for bikers in the streets.

“We want to just raise people’s awareness of the importance of being careful, as a motorcyclist and as well as a driver of a car, that we share the road, one with another,” she said. 

Next year, the Sisters of Providence hope to add a charity ride to go with the blessing– but those details will be ironed out ahead of 2024.