Honouring Mary in the Month of May

At our school, May is a special time as we join the Church in celebrating Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This long-standing tradition takes place in May because it is a beautiful springtime month, symbolising new life—just as Mary brought new life into the world through Jesus.

Throughout the month, our special Prayer Bags to celebrate our devotion to Our Lady, travel home with a different child each day. Each bag contains a small candle, Rosary beads, a cross, a picture of our Heavenly Mother, and instructions for praying the Rosary together as a family.

At St Mary Magdalen’s, we hold a joyful Procession to celebrate our dedication to our Holy Queen. Each class creates beautifully decorated banners and flowers, and we parade through the playground to honour Mary, our Mother of Mercy. We then gather in the hall for hymns, scripture readings, and prayers. Monsignor Reader joins us to give a blessing, and we pray a decade of the Rosary together.

This year’s celebration was especially meaningful as it followed the conclave of Pope Leo XIV. Our procession included a special reflection on the wonderful legacy that Pope Francis has left to all of us and the Church, as well as a heartfelt prayer to welcome Pope Leo XIV, asking him to guide us and bring us closer to God.

In addition, every year group learned to pray the "Hail Mary" using Sign Language. Below, you can enjoy a video of our wonderful Year 5 children signing the prayer before delivering their Mental Health Awareness Week assembly. You’ll see them wearing green as part of our efforts to raise awareness in support of mental health.

May is always a time of beauty, prayer, and community, and this year’s celebration was truly one to remember.

//player.vimeo.com/video/1089558648?title=0&byline=0&loop=1#t=0.5