Every May, I lead my students in preparing for a special celebration of the Virgin Mary at an all-school mass. Because the 8th graders say a decade of the Rosary each day in Religion class, they lead this mass, which begins with the 2nd graders processing into church dressed in their First Communion clothes. They hand white carnations to the 8th graders, who put the flowers in a vase near the statue of Mary. After Communion, but before mass ends, my students crown the statue of Mary while singing “Salve Regina”.
May Crowning is a parish tradition that adult stakeholders and students alike enjoy as a way of celebrating their faith. It allows 8th graders to take on leadership roles in their church while also acting as role models for younger students. The school’s mission is to provide a foundation that encourages students to recognize and develop their personal relationship with God. The crowning ceremony is one way of helping them cultivate their spirituality.