Walker put his trust in the Lord for Biking for Babies mission
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
ALLOUEZ — Gabriel Walker was seeking simplicity this summer. He said he found it by riding a bicycle 600 miles over six days for a good cause.
Walker, a member of SS. Edward and Isidore Parish, Flintville, was one of 10 missionaries — five riders and five support crew — on the Wisconsin Team for Biking for Babies.
The National Biking for Babies Ride was held July 8-13, with the Wisconsin team starting in northeast Wisconsin and joining other teams from across the country at the finish line at the Celebration of Life in St. Louis, Mo.
The mission of Biking for Babies is to raise awareness and support for centers that help women in crisis pregnancies.
Walker, 23, will enter the Holy Name of Jesus House of Formation in Green Bay in August. He will be among the seminarians in the Kairos Year for the Diocese of Green Bay, a yearlong formation for men who feel called and have a desire to serve Jesus Christ as a priest.
Participating in Biking for Babies served as a “gauntlet type” of steppingstone for formation, he said.
“It was just simple. I would just pray, eat and bike,” said Walker about the ride. “Just trust in the Lord. That’s a really good thing going forward. I’m not in control. That’s something I’ve always struggled with, wanting to be in control. To get to where I want to go, I have to trust fully. … It helped me prepare (for the Kairos Year and) living a simpler life.”
He said his interest in Biking for Babies stemmed from conversations with past riders, including Nick Vande Hey and Rob Reynebeau, both seminarians for the Diocese of Green Bay, along with Bryce Wiegert and David Schmitt.
“I had those connections. Seeing the pictures, the videos, the energy and joy, I knew I wanted to do it for the babies and for moms,” he said.
Walker has an athletic background, including as a defensive lineman in football at Bay Port High School. But Biking for Babies posed a different physical task and mindset, he said.
“Football is more sprint fast, twitch muscles,” said Walker. “(Now) I’m going to be sitting on a bike for four or five hours. It was definitely a challenge mentally on the training rides.”
Prior to the event, Biking for Babies missionaries received the training manual “The Life Guide Biking for Babies Road Map to the Gospel of Life.”
“It’s something we’ve created in the last three years,” said Nikki Biese, executive director for the apostolate. “It’s a guide. It’s a devotional of sorts for the duration of their formation, which is March through September. It’s written instructions for their missionary experience. For the riders, it has all of the training milestones. There is Scripture throughout, Scripture reflections, questions to guide the missionaries.”
Walker said that monthly team video calls were helpful as well as gathering for two training rides — one in Milwaukee and one in Green Bay — prior to the national ride.
“On the national ride, it was so much fun,” he said. “Our team became like a family. We were able to talk to each other and have deep conversations. Sometimes it seemed like you weren’t even biking.”
Highlights of the ride included a day one tour of Women’s Care Center in Madison where Madison Bishop Donald Hying met the team and celebrated Mass in the chapel. The missionaries covered 150 miles that first day.
Staying with host families along the route was also a highlight for Walker.
“We were able to sit down and talk to them and understand their why (for being a part of it) and explain to them your why,” he said. “The sacrifice of sleep was worth it to be able to talk to those families.”
Walker also pointed to moments from the ride where he said he felt God’s presence.
Biking from Rockford to Ottawa in Illinois on Wednesday, July 10, the team could see a storm in the distance.
“We had a tailwind. We knew that we just had to have faith in the Lord and he will provide,” said Walker. “We were able to go 20 to 23 miles per hour. We were racing the storm. As we got into town, the rain started coming. The rain felt good. It was a super cool experience how the Lord protected us.”
Walker broke two spokes on his bicycle on the ride from Ottawa to Peoria, Ill., and during the time his bike was in the shop, the alternator failed on one of the support vehicles.
“We had two vehicles. They were talking about bringing it to a shop,” said Walker. “I said, ‘You get me the parts, I have the tools and can swap it out.’ It was a crazy experience. Elyse (Sardegna) and I were working on it. Gretchen (Ortner) and Lily (Smith) were praying the rosary. It was beautiful how that day happened once I gave full control to God. If I had been biking, I may not have been there to work on the vehicle.”
The Wisconsin team also featured support crew members Catherine Newburn and Kristin Sorensen, and cyclists Joshua Fitzgerald, Joe Gagliardi, Megan Sardegna and Mary Schiltz.
The nationwide 2024 goal for Biking for Babies is to donate $400,000 to pregnancy centers, $60,000 more than last year, said Biese.
Donations are being accepted through the end of September.
Walker has raised more than $5,000 in donations to date. He started his quest for raising funds by sharing information on social media. He also did talks at the end of Masses at SS. Edward and Isidore and at St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard.
“I was blown away by the generosity and the overall support for the mission,” he said. “I didn’t have to push hard. Everybody believed in the mission and renewing the culture of life. Hearing someone say, ‘I can’t go bike those 600 miles, but I will gladly support the mission’ was cool. Prayers also helped a ton.”
This experience “can really be a tangible way to grow closer to Christ,” said Biese. “We’re trying to get these young adults to encounter the Gospel of life, God’s will for their lives. We want people to be transformed by the Gospel of life.”
Mission accomplished for Walker, who followed up Biking for Babies by attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, held July 17-21.
“I grew up pro-life. I’m for the babies, but now, I truly know about a pregnancy resource center. I was able to take that step and get to know people who are also about renewing that culture of life,” he said.
He added that he was able to somewhat relate any physical pain or discomfort on the ride in unity with Jesus’ suffering and pain experienced by pregnant women.
“We may think it’s a lot of pain on the bike, but it’s nothing that (Jesus) went through,” said Walker. “Everybody on our team, no matter what happened, there was always a way to put a smile on your face. Seeing that love the Lord has for us, life is special.”
Walker has a background in ministry, including as a pontifical server (altar server at Masses presided over by the bishop) for 10 years.
He said that he initially considered entering seminary after high school.
“This is where he’s calling me now,” he said. “It’s been a beautiful summer. I will continue to trust (in the Lord). It’s been cool the conversations and the different people he’s brought into my life.”
To support Biking for Babies or for more information, visit Biking for Babies – Renewing the Culture of Life 🚲.