An annual motorbike blessing event took place at St Peter’s Church in the Brussels commune of Jette on Thursday.
During the blessing, money was collected for injured or deceased police officers, or officers who are struggling after an accident.
The money collected will go to the non-profit organisation Belgian Blue Line, an organisation dedicated to providing support to police officers who experienced a serious accident and to families of deceased officers.
The association was founded in the wake of the attacks of Brussels terror attacks in 2016. Under the slogan “United We Stand”, the non-profit organisation sold badges to support a police officer who was seriously injured on duty.
Later, the “Thin Blue Line” fundraising was extended to all police officers who were victims of an accident or serious incident while performing their duties.
At the blessing, not only were motorcycle-riding police officers present, who had been given a free pass to attend the celebration, but also numerous chapters of motorbike clubs from across the country.
Credit: Belga / Timon Ramboer
On Place Cardinal Mercier in Jette, hundreds of motorcycles were parked, dozens of motorbike clubs were present. These included the ‘Chaplaincy’ Blue Knights Belgium, a motorbike association of elderly and retired police officers.
“A ‘bike blessing’ is a gathering to bless motorcycles and people who are in trouble,” said priest Dirk Vannetelbosch, who led the celebration in Jette.
“It is an initiative we have been carrying out here for 20 years. We do this to give people a warm feeling and to show that God also has a place in their lives. In a bilingual celebration of Mass, we want to offer a warm moment together to police officers in difficulty.”
