The Blessing of the Bikes

In recent history, a new event has been occurring all over the world. In an attempt to generate environmental awareness, various congregations of different faiths have encouraged their members to commute to church via bicycle. This movement has often been stimulated by a blessing of bikes ceremony.

Photo Credit: http://www.theblessingofthebikes.com/

Special services have been held in churches and temples all over the world to bless the bikes, keep the cyclists safe, and remember those who have died in accidents. To read more about this innovative ritual, click here.

If you would like to have your bike blessed and get involved in this movement, check out this website.

The Francis Effect

Photo Credit: http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/article/the-francis-effect/

With the release of Laudato Si’ and the visitation of Pope Francis to the United States, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Americans and Catholic Americans who are concerned with Climate Change. People of different faiths have even admitted to trusting the Pope more because of what he has said. Overall, we are seeing people take on Pope Francis’ views for themselves. To check out a brief summary this phenomenon, click here. For a full PDF on this “effect”, check this out.