God’s blessing is usually pronounced on people of flesh and blood. But in the Emmer district of Barger-Oosterveld they do things a little differently on April 6. Pastor Frans Wielens then blesses 100 to 150 motorcycles prior to a special tour. Especially for co-organizer Jos Velt, who is seriously ill.
A motorcycle blessing, what is that exactly? In any case, unknown in Southeast Drenthe, according to Velt, who together with Bennie Heller provides explanations at his kitchen table. “They have been doing it in Grubbenvorst (Limburg) for years,” says Velt. “A fixed ritual at the opening of the motorcycle season. Good for an attendance of 2,000 people.” Velt and Heller are both members of the Motor Tour Club Barger-Oosterveld (50 members).
Velt: “We thought: how nice it would be to do that here too.”
The idea accelerated when Anja and Jos met pastor Frans Wielens during a visit to Ootmarsum. Wielens worked for many years as a pastor in Barger-Oosterveld. He will be retired in 2022. During the conversation the idea for the motorcycle blessing spontaneously came up. Wielens was so enthusiastic that he temporarily returned from retirement.
Preparations are now in full swing. The club has contacts with other motorcycle tour clubs in Schoonebeek, Zwartemeer, Klazienaveen and Hellendoorn. All have been asked to participate. “We look at how much interest there is for this idea, so that we know what numbers we have to take into account. A hundred engines, that would be nice. But the number could possibly go up to 150.”
On April 6, the motorcycles will gather at the Gerardus Majella Church in the center of Barger-Oosterveld. The motorcycles gather in the school yard. After a short church service, the riders receive the blessing one by one (according to their own wishes) at the entrance of the church.
The participants also receive a Christoffel medal. Heller: “For Saint Christopher is the patron saint of all travelers.” The asphalt is then explored.
But this tour is about more than just a blessed ride. All Catholic churches in Southeast Drenthe are currently conducting research into their real estate. In some cases, parishes are given the choice to dispose of buildings.
The church in Barger-Oosterveld has nothing to fear for the time being. With this blessing campaign, the church council and motorcycle club hope to strengthen the significance of the church for the village. “Hopefully this initiative will encourage other local associations to pursue similar collaborations,” said Heller.
In any case, it will be a special day for Jos Velt. He has stomach cancer with metastases in the intestinal tract. He has completed his treatment and is in his final year, as he describes it. Velt: “My wife and I, we were prepared for it. I have been in a process for five or six years.”
It started with a melanoma, which was removed. Then I got throat cancer and then it showed up in the lymph nodes.” But after every battle won, the disease returned. In the end, the treatments no longer worked. “We are sober about it,” he says. “I can I would sit behind the geraniums and whine, but I wouldn’t buy anything for that. So we’re not going to do that.”
He also doesn’t want April 6th to be about him. Much more important is that it has helped the church, he says. “I enjoy the prospect of that trip. It will be a day of emotion. There will certainly be a tear or two. But with that tear there will also be a smile.”