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 31), 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, although it is on June 9 in 2025.

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 Crowning Ceremonies

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland - A May crowning of Mary will take place during the Sunday, May 4, 10 a.m. Mass.

Our Lady of Hope Parish, Portland

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland - Faith formation children will participate in a May Crowning ceremony on Sunday, May 4, following the 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Pius X Church. There will be a procession with flowers to a statue of Mary.

Parish of the Holy Eucharist, Falmouth

On Sunday, May 4, faith formation children will crown a statue of Mary at the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Martyrs of North America Church in Falmouth.

Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, Portland

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street, Portland - A May crowning of Mary will take place during the Sunday, May 4, 10:30 a.m. Mass.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham - A May crowning will take place during the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 4.

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street, Gorham - A May will be held on Sunday, May 4, during the 8 a.m. Mass.

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street, Westbrook - A May crowning will take place on Sunday, May 4, during the 9:30 a.m. Mass.

St. John Paul II Parish, Scarborough

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough - Children will participate in a May Crowning ceremony in the Mary Garden at the church on Sunday, May 4, at 1 p.m. They will then have the opportunity to make their own Mary Garden to take home.

St. Louis Parish, Portland

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street, Portland - A May crowning of Mary will take place during the Sunday, May 4, 11:30 a.m. Mass.

St. Peter Parish, Portland

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland - A May crowning of Mary will take place during the Sunday, May 4, 9 a.m. Mass.

Rosary Gatherings

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland

All are invited to pray the Rosary in honor of Our Lady of Fatima on the west lawn of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland, on May 10 at noon in commemoration of the Blessed Mother's first appearance to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.

Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish, Madawaska

The Fatima Rosary group meets the 13th of every month at noon at St. Gerard-Mt. Carmel Church, 363 Main Street in Grand Isle. FMI: Barb at 207-895-6943.

St. Agnes Parish, Pittsfield

The Fatima Rosary Prayer Group meets Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street in Pittsfield, to pray the Rosary and the Fatima prayers. FMI: Connie Craven at 207-278-5430.

Teachings, Retreats, and Other Gatherings

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Choir will be host an evening of Marian Reflection on Friday, May 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the cathedral in Portland. The reflections will be given by Father Joseph Briody, a professor of Sacred Scripture at Saint John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts.

Christian Life Center, Frenchville

A mother-daughter retreat with the theme of Discipleship will be held at the Christian Life Center, 444 U.S. Route One in Frenchville, May 16 & 17. Arrival is at 6 p.m. Friday, and the retreat concludes at 2 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $75 per mother-daughter pair.

Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Dexter

A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother will be held at the parish center at St . Anne Church, 64 Free Street in Dexter. There will be eight sessions beginning on Wednesday, May 14. Sessions will be held at 6 p.m. Books will be provided at no cost, thanks to the Knights of Columbus Council 2625. Sign up by calling Kathy Clark at 1-207-938-4856 or Woody Livingston at 1-603-550-2487 or just by coming on May 14.

St. John Paul II Parish, Scarborough

A St. Mary's Garden work day to spruce up Mary's Garden at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Scarborough, will be held on Saturday, May 3, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Gather in Room 6 of the church hall, located at 150 Black Point Road in Scarborough. You are welcome to come late or leave early as your schedule allows.

St. Matthew Parish, Limerick

Mary, the New Eve, a women's spring mini-retreat will be held Saturday, May 3, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane in Limerick. Join in prayer, song, and fellowship, gaining strength from the stories of biblical women. FMI: [email protected]

St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor

To honor the Blessed Mother in the month of May, St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Bangor will come together to make a “Marian Pilgrimage” at St. Mary Church on Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Participants will pray the Rosary, “Mary’s Way of the Cross,” and the Chaplet of Mary’s virtues. Please join us with your family and friends! All are welcome to bring a flower to contribute to Mary’s bouquet.