Dozens of motorcyclists cruised onto campus on Sunday, October 15 in a show of support for police and the military.
The Michael the Archangel Police and Military Ride began at the Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia. Police escorted participants from the FOP to the Veterans Memorial Plaza at DeSales University for a prayer service and blessing of the motorcycles and riders.
All proceeds benefit Michael the Archangel Ministry Program, which sponsored the ride along with The Bullets Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.
“Our program here at the FOP is self-funded,” says Father Steve Wetzel, OSFS, FOP chaplain. “We have to raise our funding for the entire program.”
Father Wetzel, along with six officers, founded the ministry program almost four years ago. The goal is to provide pastoral care and crisis ministry 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all active and retired officers and their families.
That adds up to about 14,000 people. “We serve so many people,” says Fr. Wetzel. “We are multi-denominational. That’s why we need to raise these funds.”
Wetzel lived on the DeSales campus for eight years back in the 90s. He got the idea to include the University in the ride during a visit in June.
“We have a number of Philadelphia police officers who have children at DeSales. A few of our board members have children at DeSales as well. It’s kind of a family thing. I couldn’t think of a better place to do this.”
