Above, left to right: Joe Armen, Emma Ferrero, Jonathan Eger, Maddie Ferrero, Jim Scofield, Father Matthew Harrison and Karina Peplinski gather for a photo before the team launched from Raleigh.
Local Catholics host national team
It’s 5:09 a.m. and Jim Scofield’s garage is home to a launch. The smells of a bacon-and-eggs breakfast escape from inside the house as four cyclists and their support team focus on prayer, helmets and water bottles.
Scofield, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, is still wearing his apron from breakfast as he helps with last minute preparations and morale. The bikes have not only the necessary lights for setting out into darkness, but lists of intentions covered in plastic and taped to the top tubes.
The team seems to be starting the 600-mile journey in the right place.
After all, Scofield is a cyclist, too, often calling himself a “roadie”. He can handle the bikes, and maintenance like brake pads and retaping liner in the wheels. He can also bring levity to a rainy morning by calling the drops “liquid sunshine” as the cyclists begin pedaling and finding their gears.
This is his second year of hosting a team from Biking for Babies, an organization headquartered in Missouri with missionaries throughout the country. Biking for Babies “proclaims the dignity of human life by uniting cycling with the formation of young adults into missionary disciples of Jesus Christ,” as shared on its website.
Scofield hosted the men on the journey: Joe Armen, who is from Ohio and worked on the support team, cyclist Jonathan Eger of Pennsylvania and Father Matthew Harrison, who is the chaplain at High Point University, of the Diocese of Charlotte.
“[Biking for Babies] is a life-giving ministry that is turbo-charged by young adult missionaries who proudly and enthusiastically live their Catholic faith every nanosecond of their lives,” shared Scofield, who learned about the effort from his friend, Father Steven DiMassimo.
Ellen and John Guarente, parishioners at St. Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest, hosted the women, which included support team member Karina Peplinski of Michigan and cyclists Emma and Maddie Ferrero, sisters who are from Pennsylvania.
They learned of the hosting opportunity through Regnum Christi.
“It can feel like we come in like a storm … with all our bikes and luggage,” laughed Maddie Ferrero, who said she was so excited to see the three North Carolina hosts again after meeting them in 2025. “They create a space for us to bond and be a team. Having their presence is just really beautiful and we wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing without our host families. They are such an integral part of our mission.”
The team raises money for pregnancy resource centers, such as MiraVia in Charlotte. Raleigh was the beginning of their route, which took them to Philadelphia.
During 2026, other teams participated in similar rides to Central Iowa and Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. And events were held in 21 states, including Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
During their time in the diocese, the Philadelphia-bound group of six celebrated Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Church July 12 and brought out guitars for a bluegrass jam session at Scofield’s.
“The most impactful part of hosting the Biking for Babies Raleigh Team is witnessing their passion and commitment to bringing awareness to the sacredness of life … we believe strongly in their impactful work,” shared Ellen Guarente. “We also enjoy hosting guests. It gives me an excuse to cook in volume, and John has an opportunity share his passion for cycling. One of our favorite aspects of the weekend is hosting Sunday brunch following Mass … the house is filled with noise, food and energetic souls. As empty nesters, it's wonderful to experience.”
She added that it’s easy to host, and said all it involves is providing beds, a few meals, ample snacks and making themselves available to answer questions and provide assistance.
For his part, Scofield said he enjoys spending time with the team and that he’s able to make it happen by preparing ahead of time.
“They are profoundly inspiring, and give me boundless joy, which is why I will do anything and everything to be their host whenever they come to Raleigh,” he said.
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