Children from Our Lady of Hope Parish participate in May crowning ceremony

“Because she is Jesus’ mother.”

With those words, Luke, age 8, summed up why faith formation students from Our Lady of Hope Parish in Portland participated in a May crowning ceremony on Sunday, May 14, at St. Pius X Church in Portland.

Following the 9:30 a.m. Mass, parishioners joined in singing "Ave Maria" while children processed to an outdoor statue of Mary and placed a colorful array of flowers at her feet and a crown of flowers on her head.

Father Brian Conley, SJ, a parochial vicar of the parish then offered a brief prayer.

“We ask you to bless us, to bless our parish and to continue to infuse the Spirit into us, continue to make us a place of welcome and of hope,” Father Conley said.

He also thanked God for the gift of the Blessed Mother and the beauty of the flowers and the new life that they represent.

Parishes traditionally hold May crowning ceremonies in the month of May because it is considered the month of Mary, and on May 13, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the Blessed Mother’s first appearance to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.

May Crowning ceremonies also took place the weekend of May 13 and 14 in Farmington, Jay, and Millinocket, with many other parishes holding them on the previous weekend.