May Crowning ceremonies are a traditional Catholic ritual that honor Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, during the month of May. Around the Archdiocese, students have been honoring Mary with processions, hymns and songs, prayer services and Masses, and by crowning statues of Mary with flower garlands.
Catholics started this tradition in the Middle Ages, dedicating May to celebrations in Mary’s honor. Participants crown a statue of Mary with a garland or crown of flowers in a ceremonial procession.
Here is a look at how schools around the Archdiocese of Newark are honoring the Blessed Mother this month:
Hudson County students celebrate the Blessed Mother
Students at Our Lady of Czestochowa School in Jersey City celebrated a Marian procession across the school grounds. The event featured singing, prayer, and a ceremonial crowning of the statue of the Blessed Virgin. (Our Lady of Czestochowa School)
Students at Saint Dominic Academy in Jersey City processed outside to sing and pray during the ceremonial crowning. (Saint Dominic Academy)
At St. Aloysius Elementary School in Jersey City students gathered to place a crown of flowers on the Blessed Mother in celebration of the Month of Mary. (St. Aloysius Elementary School)
Essex County students honor Blessed Mother with May Crowning ceremonies
Students at Our Lady of the Lake School in Verona celebrated Mass and crowned a statue of the Blessed Mother. (Our Lady of the Lake School)Students at Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell placed a crown of flowers on a statue of the Blessed Mother. (Mount Saint Dominic Academy)Students at St. Cassian School in Montclair sang and prayed during the May Crowning ceremony. (St. Cassian School)
May Crowning ceremonies take place across Union County
Students at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains crowned statues of the Blessed Mother on their school campus. (Union Catholic High School)Students at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains crowned statues of the Blessed Mother on their school campus. (Union Catholic High School)Students at St. Bartholomew Academy in Scotch Plains laid flowers at the foot of the statue of the Blessed Mother. They prayed for Mary’s intercession during the school’s May Crowning Mass. (St. Bartholomew Academy)
Bergen County students venerate Blessed Mother
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace in New Providence celebrated May Crowning. (Academy of Our Lady of Peace)
At the Academy of Our Lady of Grace in Fairview, students brought flowers to a statue of the Blessed Mother during a May Crowning ceremony. (Academy of Our Lady of Grace).At Holy Trinity School in Westfield, preschoolers laid bouquets at the foot of a statue of the Blessed Mother during May Crowning. (Holy Trinity School)Students at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell processed through the school hallways. They sang the Ave Maria and adorned a statue of the Blessed Mother with a crown of flowers. (Bergen Catholic High School)
