Celebrating the Month of Mary

For centuries, the month of May has been dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. In his encyclical Mense Maio, Pope Paul VI wrote, "This is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God's merciful gifts come down to us from our Mother's throne" (April 29, 1964).

During May, it is common for parishes to honor the Blessed Mother with May Crowning ceremonies, traditionally held toward the beginning of the month. Parishioners, most often children, adorn statues of Mary with crowns of flowers, which are also placed around her feet.

The month also often features additional opportunities to gather together to pray the Rosary. On May 13, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the Blessed Mother's first appearance in Fatima, during which she urged the shepherd children to pray the Rosary every day.

In addition to the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the month also includes the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (May 30, 2026), commemorating Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who would soon give birth to St. John the Baptist. During many years, the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost, also falls in the month of May. In 2026, it is on May 25.

Below, you will find a list of some of the ceremonies and prayer opportunities being held to celebrate the Month of Mary, but the month also provides an opportunity to celebrate Mary in your home or with your family. Suggestions include setting up Marian prayer corner in your home, praying a novena to Our Lady, praying the Rosary, reading a book or Scripture passages about Mary, or planting a Mary Garden, another tradition that goes back centuries.

May Crownings

Our Lady of Hope Parish, Portland

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Children will join in the crowning of Mary following the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 10.

Parish of the Holy Eucharist, Falmouth

Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth - There will be a May Crowning ceremony with children in catechesis following the 10:30 am Mass. The ceremony will include the crowning of Mary by one of the children followed by a procession around the block with the Mary statue.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street, Westbrook - Children will participate in a procession with flowers for the Blessed Mother on Sunday, May 3, during the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Fellowship and refreshments will follow in the church hall after Mass.

St. John Paul II Parish, Scarborough

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough - A May crowning ceremony will be held on May 3 at noon.

Rosary Gatherings

Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish, Madawaska

St. Gerard-Mt. Carmel Church, 263 Main Street, Grand Isle - The Fatima Rosary is prayed on the 13th of every month at noon.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 309 St. Thomas Street, Madawaska - A Public Square Rosary group meetings every Wednesday and Friday at 3 p.m. to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet followed by the Rosary.