Bikers get holy

The sound of about 550 motorcycles could be heard April 11 as hundreds of bikers descended on downtown Port Arthur for the 14th annual B.J. Stelly Memorial Bike Blessing. Father Sinclair Oubre, director of Apostleship of the Sea for the Diocese of Beaumont and pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Port Arthur, organized the event. Father Oubre said a special blessing for all the motorcycles that died in Bridge City during Hurricane Ike. After the blessing, Father Oubre sprinkled all 548 motorcycles with holy water. The day concluded with live music, activities and gumbo at the pavilion on Proctor Street. All proceeds from the bike run and gumbo sales went to the International Seafarer’s Center, a center for the thousands of merchant sailors who visit Southeast Texas through the Port of Port Arthur every year.

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