When then-Father Joseph Williams received the call that he would become auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, he was watching videos of mountain biking.
That fact was no surprise to Father James Adams and Father Patrick Barnes, pastors in the archdiocese who are two of Bishop Williams’ biking buddies along the trails of Minnesota.
“It’s a great blessing to get out of the office and be outside with my brother priests in the beauty of nature,” Father Barnes, pastor of Saint Henry Parish in Monticello, Minn., said of their bike excursions, which usually take place two to three times a month, year-round.
The trio have been biking together for only three-and-a-half-years, but their relationship dates back decades.
Father Adams, parochial administrator at the Church of Saint Francis de Sales in Saint Paul, first met Bishop Williams in the late 1990s at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, when Bishop Williams was a seminarian and Father Adams was an undergraduate. Father Adams later joined his friend at The Saint Paul Seminary in Saint Paul.
Father Barnes first met Bishop Williams at The Saint Paul Seminary as well, when Father Barnes was a seminarian and his now-friend visited to lecture on the Blessed Mother. Years later, the pastor would became priest-mentor to Father Barnes after the latter’s priestly ordination in 2010.
Both priests say that have always been appreciative of their friend’s counsel – on life, the priesthood … and mountain biking.
It was December 2020 when Father Barnes gave Bishop Williams a call asking what he thought about fat tire bikes. The versatile, all-season and all-weather bikes are perfect for gliding over Minnesota’s winter snows, while at the same time maintaining a grip on the hills and valleys in the warmer months. Father Williams wholeheartedly endorsed the idea, and a biking brotherhood began.
Others join the priests on their trips at times, though for the most part, it has been the trio who embark on two- or three-hour excursions. They often cover 5 to 15 miles on their wheels.
“We’ll ride for a while, then stop and have good conversation for a bit, then ride again and be in the goodness of God’s creation,” Father Barnes said. “It’s a great blessing to be outside with my brother priests, keep our bodies and souls healthy, and then enjoy the fruits of our labor [with a meal].”
Father Adams added, “You can get your mind off everything. The fresh air is therapeutic.”
The two will miss the regular Minnesota bike trips with their friend, but are just as excited for Bishop Williams’ new flock. They hope to experience sometime soon New Jersey’s greenery and bike trails.
“I’m excited to see what New Jersey’s trails are like and can’t wait to get out there,” Father Barnes said.
Wherever their next shared ride brings them, the priests know it’ll be just as fruitful as the tracks they’ve already covered.
“No man is an island, and it’s important to have good friendships and be a part of a group that is helpful and encouraging,” Father Adams said.
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