Colorful celebrations of May Crowning occur around the Archdiocese
May is a special month in the Catholic Church. First Communion, the Rite of Ordination, and other celebrations often take place then. The joy of Easter season and the flowers of Spring point to rebirth and optimism. But May is also unique because of its association with Mary, as it is a full month of devotion to the Blessed Mother.
The Catholic practice of setting aside 31 days for Mary can be traced back to the Tricesimum of the Middle Ages – and for the last few centuries, May, in particular, has been Her month. Now, Catholics pray daily rosaries and carry out the May Crowning ceremony, in which Mary is adorned with flowers and, on occasion, paraded through the streets.
JerseyCatholic.org collected the colorful pictures from this year’s May Crowning ceremonies held at parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark. View them in the slideshow below (45 pictures).
Assumption Church – Emerson 
Assumption Church – Emerson 
Church of the Presentation – Upper Saddle River 
Holy Cross – Harrison 
Holy Family – Nutley 
Holy Trinity – Hackensack 
Holy Trinity – Westfield 
Holy Trinity – Westfield 
Little Flower – Berkeley Heights 
Little Flower – Berkeley Heights 
Madonna Church – Fort Lee 
Most Blessed Sacrament – Franklin Lakes 
Most Blessed Sacrament – Franklin Lakes 
Our Lady of Grace – Fairview 
Our Lady of Grace – Hoboken 
Our Lady of the Lake – Verona 
Our Lady of Mercy – Park Ridge 
Our Lady of Mercy – Park Ridge 
Our Lady of Mount Virgin – Garfield 
Our Lady of Peace – New Providence 
Our Lady of Peace – New Providence 
Our Lady of the Visitation – Paramus 
SS Peter and Paul – Hoboken 
SS Peter and Paul – Hoboken 
St. Aedan – Jersey City 
St. Aloysius – Caldwell 
St. Anastasia – Teaneck 
St. Andrew – Westwood 
St. Ann – Hoboken 
St. Anthony – Northvale 
St. Augustine – Union City 
St. Bartholomew – Scotch Plains 
St. Bartholomew – Scotch Plains 
St. Francis of Assisi – Hoboken 
St. Francis of Assisi – Ridgefield Park 
St. Hedwig – Elizabeth 
St. James – Springfield 
St. James – Springfield 
St. Joseph – Bogota 
St. Lawrence – Weehawken 
St. Michael – Newark 
St. Paul – Ramsey 
St. Peter – Belleville 
St. Peter – Belleville 
St. Thomas More – Fairfield
Pictures of May Crowning are courtesy of the parishes of the Archdiocese of Newark. Any professional photography displayed is the property of the attributed parish.
