August 11, 2002
Planned Daily Mileage: 135

"Race to Respond" Crew Chief Kerry San Chirico leads morning devotions on Sunday, Aug. 11, outside a motel in Bloomington, Ill., while Michael Tsakalos (far right), Jim Angelus and Angelus' son Nicholas listen.

Crew Chief Kerry San Chirico (in white) leads morning devotions on Sunday, Aug. 11, in Bloomington, Ill., while "Race to Respond" cyclists (from left) Alex Mazarakos, Jim Angelus, Michael Tsakalos and Constantine "Dino" Davlantis listen.

"Race to Respond" cyclist Konstantin Kanelis (rear) does a few laps in front of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis with parishioners Eddie McNamara (with blue helmet) and Leo Pashos on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 11. Kanelis took a break from riding that day to attend Divine Liturgy at the church.

"Race to Respond" cyclist Konstantin Kanelis talks about IOCC's humanitarian mission during an event at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis on Sunday, Aug. 11. With him are (from left) parishioner Nicholas Karakas, IOCC Volunteer Services Coordinator Ivan Bojanic and parishioner Ed McNamara. Karakas and McNamara were co-organizers of the St. Louis event.

"Race to Respond" lead cyclist Jim Angelus (kneeling in front) meets with members of the Quincy (Ill.) Orthodox Mission on Aug. 11. The race route passed just south of Quincy on Day 10 on the way to Missouri.

Bloomington, Ill. (IOCC) — The IOCC "Race to Respond" team began their day on Sunday, Aug. 11, with a morning prayer service led by Crew Chief Kerry San Chirico outside their hotel in Bloomington, Ill. San Chirico, a St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary graduate, read from the Gospel of Matthew and reflected on the purpose of their mission in service to others before the cyclists continued on their journey.

Several members of the IOCC "Race to Respond" team, including Konstantin Kanelis of Munich, Germany, took a respite from the day's ride to join with the parishioners of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis, 150 miles south of the race route.

In his sermon, the Rev. Douglas Papulis, pastor of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in St. Louis, noted that St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans (15:1-7) "tells the strong to support the weak."

"Jesus breaks down barriers: physical, mental, psychological and spiritual. What Christ did should be done today," Fr. Papulis told the 400 assembled worshipers. "He came here concerned about those who are suffering, concerned about us. We too have to break through the barriers."

Following the sermon, Fr. Papulis acknowledged the cycling team and invited the parishioners to join in a presentation in the parish hall organized by Nicholas Karakas and Ed McNamara, together with the IOCC Metropolitan Committee of St. Louis.

Introducing "Race to Respond" team member Konstantin Kanelis, IOCC Volunteer Services Coordinator Ivan Bojanic acknowledged the long standing support of the St. Nicholas Ladies Philoptochos Society. "The support of the Philoptochos chapter here and those throughout the country over the past 10 years has been tremendous," he said.

"The Race to Respond is symbolic of the obstacles we must overcome in our daily lives," said cyclist Konstantin Kanelis before about 50 people gathered in the parish hall. "The barriers are within us. If we can overcome these, we can do much higher works. We do the race as an indication of our willingness to do more in faith for others."

Kanelis, who regularly trains and races in the Alps near his home in Munich, Germany, said, "When you believe, the Gospel tells us, you can move mountains. We may not move mountains, but we will cycle over them."

After their morning service, the other cyclists continued their journey by bicycle toward Quincy, Ill., where Team Captain Jim Angelus was greeted by parishioners of the Quincy Orthodox Mission, who read prayers for travelers before visiting a local Greek restaurant.

Connie Shinn, the liturgical coordinator for the Quincy Orthodox Mission, noted that the "Race to Respond" visit was important because "we want to be able to show that Orthodox are part of the local community." Leo Mueller, secretary/treasurer of the Mission, presented the team with a generous contribution on behalf of the Mission.

The following morning, the Shinn family — David, Connie and their daughters Sarah and Hope — came to the hotel parking lot at 6 a.m. to see the cyclists off as they departed for Brookfield, Mo.