Vacation / Travel Supplement

‘Vatican Ride’: Bicyclists can view historic churches in Franklin County

The spires of Holy Family Church and the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis rise up over the trees of historic Oldenburg. The southeastern Indiana town serves as the starting and ending point of the two loops of the “Vatican Ride” in which bicyclists can view several parish churches in Franklin County. (File photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Sean Gallagher

As you drive over the rolling hills on the back roads of southeastern Indiana, it seems like you can see another Catholic church in the distance with every peak you cross.

The Batesville Deanery, which lies in the heart of southeastern Indiana, has 26 parish churches, far more than any other of the archdiocese’s 11 deaneries.

Franklin County alone has nine parishes. Seven are in the Batesville Deanery. Two are in the bordering Connersville Deanery.

The Franklin County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission is now helping bicyclists visiting the area view these historic churches, enjoy the natural beauty of southeastern Indiana, and get some good exercise pedaling up and coasting down its many hills.

Jo Ann Prickel, tourism director for the commission and a member of Holy Family Parish in Oldenburg in Franklin County, has helped map out two loops on what has been called the county’s “Vatican Ride.”

Prickel said she got the idea from a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis based in Oldenburg, who would ride bicycles with some friends to nearby parishes.

“They jokingly called it the Vatican Ride,” Prickel said. “So I took the idea and ran with it. They just [rode] to one or two of the churches. And I thought, ‘Why not ride to all of them?’ ”

Both loops begin and end in Oldenburg. Riders are free to park at Holy Family Parish on Main Street in the historic town.

At 17.2 miles, loop No. 1 is geared for families. On it, riders will pass by Holy Family Church and the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis, both in Oldenburg, as well as St. John the Evangelist Church in Enochsburg and St. Anne Church in Hamburg.

Loop No. 2 is for expert cyclists and covers 44 miles. Along its byways, riders will see Holy Family Church and the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis, both in Oldenburg, as well as St. Peter Church in Franklin County, Holy Guardian Angels Church in Cedar Grove, St. Michael Church in Brookville, SS. Philomena and Cecilia Church in Oak Forest and St. Mary-of-the-Rock Church in Franklin County.

“Some of the professional bike riders that I’ve talked to have said that it’s a tough ride,” Prickel said. “It’s intense.”

Road signs pointing riders in the right direction should be installed by late June. Currently, there are signs for bicyclists painted on the roads.

All roads on the loops are county roads so cyclists won’t have to take the busier state roads or U.S. highways.

As visitors to Franklin County ride along the loops, they will, in a sense, be going back in time.

Many of the churches along both loops are testaments to the faith of the German immigrants that moved to the area in the mid-19th century. The historic churches continue to be lovingly maintained by their present-day descendants.

Holy Family Parish was founded in 1837, just three years after the establishment of the Diocese of Vincennes. St. Peter Parish followed it by one year. St. John the Evangelist Parish and SS. Philomena and Cecilia Parish were established in 1844. St. Michael Parish was founded the next year.

The Franciscan sisters arrived in Oldenburg in 1851. St. Anne Parish was founded in 1869. Holy Guardian Angels Parish is the “newest” Franklin County parish, having been established in 1874.

“What better way [is there] to appreciate nature and understand our Catholic background than by visiting these old churches?” Prickel asked. “It’s a great activity as far as it being on safe country roads that are well marked. There’s no question about where you’re going.”

In the future, Prickel hopes to organize a ride in the spring or fall where lots of bicyclists ride the loops at the same time and have cards stamped at each church along the way.

She also said that visitors could ride along the loops on weekends when the parishes host picnics or festivals.

St. John the Evangelist Parish in Enochsburg and St. Peter Parish in Franklin County have parish picnics during the Labor Day weekend.

Although brochures publicizing the “Vatican Ride” only began to be distributed in April, Prickel said she has already received inquiries about the loops from people living as far away as Chicago.

But, for her, the idea of putting together these bicycle rides came out of her experience growing up in Franklin County.

“This is what I do,” Prickel said. “I was born and raised on a 140-acre farm on the outskirts of Oldenburg. For fun, we would all go out as a family and cut wood. My mother would bring a pot of soup out and heat it up on a campfire. It just came out of my Catholic upbringing more than anything else.”

Prickel’s love for the Catholic faith and the county that she has called home for so many years are tightly interwoven.

“If God’s not there [in Franklin County],” she said, “I don’t know where God is.”

(For more information about the “Vatican Ride.” log on to www.franklincountyin.com, send an e-mail to info@franklincountyin.com or call 866-647-6555.) †