The historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan recently hosted its first ever Motorcycle Blessing event in its 145-year history, a significant milestone for the iconic church and the local motorcycling community. Retired NYPD Sgt. Steve Cataneo, who teamed up with Blue Lives Matter NYC co-founder Joseph Imperatrice to organize the event, expressed excitement about its success.
The day began with a charity motorbike run for the families of fallen officers, starting at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ and ending at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The entire route was fully police-escorted from beginning to end, ensuring safety for all participants. Motorcycle riders were able to gather inside the cathedral for a prayer service honoring active and retired police officers and first responders before heading outside for the blessings of their bikes by Father Andrew King.
Father King blessed the crowd lined up on West 51st Street, as well as their motorcycles parked beside them with holy water. Many riders made the sign of the cross in reverence to this spiritual moment. The funds raised from the riders’ registration fees and any additional donations received were contributed to Blue Lives Matter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement officers and their families. A portion of the collected funds was also donated to St. Patrick’s Cathedral itself.
For retired police sergeant Steve Cataneo, who is also a member of a New Jersey chapter of the Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, the event held personal significance. I’m a retired police sergeant, so I know what cops go through and their families,” he said. So it means a lot.
This unique motorcycle blessing event at St. Patrick’s Cathedral not only brought together law enforcement officers and motorcycle enthusiasts but also raised funds for a worthy cause, further solidifying the bond between community members who value the protection and support of their local heroes.
