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

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland - A May crowning ceremony will take place during the Sunday, May 3, 10 a.m. Mass.

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.

Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, Portland

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street, Portland - A May crowning ceremony will take place during the Sunday, May 3, 10:30 a.m. Mass

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham - May crowning of Mary will take place during the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses.

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street, Gorham - May crowning of Mary will take place during the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses.

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.

St. Louis Parish, Portland

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street, Portland - A May crowning ceremony will take place during the Sunday, May 3, 11 a.m. Mass

St. Peter Parish, Portland

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland - A May Crowning will take place during the Sunday, May 3, 9 a.m. Mass

Rosary / Prayer Gatherings / Presentations

Christian Life Center, Frenchville

Christian Life Center, 444 U.S. Route One, Frenchville - Msgr. Jean-Paul Labrie will lead a presentation on the Lesser-known Apparitions of Mary on May 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $20 and includes lunch. Pre-registration is required. Please email [email protected] or call 207-543-6193.

Corpus Christi Parish, Winslow

Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville - The Rosary and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament are held on Fridays at 11:30 a.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street, Winslow - The Rosary is prayed on Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m.

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 meets every Wednesday and Friday at 3 p.m. to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet followed by the Rosary.

St. Agnes Parish, Island Falls

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street, Island Falls - The Rosary is prayed every Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

St. Agnes Parish, Pittsfield

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street, Pittsfield - The St. Agnes Fatima Rosary Prayer Group meets Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. to pray the Rosary and some Fatima prayers.

St. Joseph Parish, Bridgton

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street, Bridgton - All are invited to join the Knights of Columbus on May 27 at 6 p.m. for a Silver Rose Prayer Service in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Knights' Silver Rose Prayer program is an opportunity for community members to pray for respect for all human life, for the spiritual renewal of the nation, and for the advancement of the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Participants can expect a heartwarming spiritual and educational experience that will include:

Participation through the use of a prayer service booklet
A processional honoring the Silver Rose and Our Lady of Guadalupe
A display of the Icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe
A quick history of the Silver Rose program, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and some of the miracles of Juan Diego’s tilma
Praying of the Holy Rosary
Liturgy of the Word
Singing of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Every attendee will also receive a homemade rosary blessed by a Catholic priest from Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Mexico City.

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street, Houlton - A Rosary and reflection group meets every Tuesday at 8 a.m. All are invited.

St. Michael Parish, Augusta

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta - The Rosary is prayed on the last Sunday of the month at 10 a.m.

St. Francis Xavier Church, 133 U.S. Route One, Winthrop - The Rosary is prayed Mondays at 6 p.m. and First Saturdays at 8 a.m.

St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue, Augusta - The Rosary is prayed on the last Sunday of the month at 8 a.m.

St. Monica Chapel, 5 Kendall Street, Augusta - The Rosary is prayed on Mondays at 6 p.m.

St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street, Bangor - To honor the Blessed Mother, St. Paul the Apostle Parish will holds its annual Marian pilgrimage on Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., at St. Mary Church in Bangor. Participants will pray the Rosary, "Mary's Way of the Cross," and recite Mary's virtues. All are invited to also bring a flower for Mary's bouquet if they wish.

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, Machias

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street, Machias - A Power Hour Rosary and Adoration for Vocations will be held on Wednesday, May 6, beginning at 8 a.m. with the praying of the Rosary, followed by Mass at 8:30 a.m., and then Rosary and Adoration from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street, Lubec - A Power Hour Rosary and Adoration for Vocations will be held on Friday, May 1, beginning at 8 a.m. with the praying of the Rosary, followed by Mass at 8:30 a.m., and then Rosary and Adoration from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street, Cherryfield - Power Hour Rosary and Adoration for Vocations will be held on Thursday, May 7, beginning at 8 a.m. with the praying of the Rosary, followed by Mass at 8:30 a.m., and then Rosary and Adoration from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Norway

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street, Norway - The parish's annual Illuminated Rosary will be prayed on the front lawn of St Catherine of Sienna Church on May 22 at 7:30 pm. Join in this special devotion to Mary our Mother.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Sanford

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue, Sanford - On Saturday, May 30, following the 4 p.m. Mass at Holy Family Church, join in praying the Rosary and Benediction. School-aged children are also welcome to join in an opening Marian procession led by the Knights of Columbus immediately following the Mass. Children should gather in the back of the church.