May is the month of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Kensington, Maryland held a morning Mass and the crowning of a statue of Mary on May 5 as part of their tribute to the Blessed Mother. Cardinal Gregory celebrated the school’s Mass at Holy Redeemer Church and discussed the importance of Mary and mothers.
In his homily, the cardinal said that was the perfect day to crown Mary – because King Charles III’s coronation would be taking place the next day in England. Although, the cardinal jokingly added, there would most likely not be horses at the crowning of Mary at Holy Redeemer Church. The cardinal also noted that the May crowning was taking place just a week before Mother’s Day.
“Throughout the entire month of May, we remember that this wonderful woman that we will crown is really Queen of the Universe, Queen of Heaven and Earth, and she is our queen,” Cardinal Gregory said.
Cardinal Gregory went on to tell the students that they should treat their mothers similarly.
“We should treat [our mothers] like a queen on her special day, because moms are so very important in every family, along with grandmas, and great-grandmas, and mothers-in-law, and step-mothers,” Cardinal Gregory said. “Mothers are the glue that keep families together.”
Cardinal Gregory noted that Catholics think of Mary during the entire month of May.
“She probably did the cooking and the cleaning, and told Jesus, ‘Don’t misbehave today,’” Cardinal Gregory said.
He went on to explain that just as Jesus told St. John that Mary was also his mother, Catholics should likewise consider Mary as their mother.
“She took wonderful care of Jesus, as all moms do [with their children],” Cardinal Gregory said. He explained that “we crown [Mary] because of her great devotion and love for Jesus.”
At the end of his homily, Cardinal Gregory said, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mary. We are so glad to be your kids.”
Following Communion, two students approached the front of the Church and placed a flower crown over the head of a Mary statue, after which students began to pray.
After Mass, Cardinal Gregory stayed to greet students and have photos taken with them.
Dominick Brothers and Lily Marmor are soon-to-be graduates of Holy Redeemer. Brothers, who started at the school in first grade, has many emotions on this milestone.
“It’s kind of sad to leave because it’s such a fun community, but it’s fun to also move on and be with my friends from the school and go to a new school,” Brothers said. He will be attending St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C.
Marmor joined Holy Redeemer as a student in second grade.
Marmor shared a sentiment similar to Brothers’, and said that “it’s really sad because I haven’t really known anywhere else that I can really remember.” She will be attending Connelly School of the Holy Child in the fall in Potomac, Maryland.
Both graduating eighth graders are excited to meet new people in high school.
“Definitely [looking forward to] meeting new friends, because I haven’t done that in a while,” Marmor said.
Marmor and Brothers said the cardinal’s visit was exciting for the school.
“It was a little nerve-racking because I had a petition (to read), but then once I got to know [the cardinal], he was really nice, and it made me less nervous,” Brothers said.
Marmor was impressed that the cardinal visited Kensington.
“It was kinda crazy that he came to our really small neighborhood that no one really knows of when you say the name, so it was just crazy to see someone with that big of a title here,” Marmor said.
The students spoke on how attending Holy Redeemer has shaped their faith.
“It’s definitely made me appreciate the Catholic community, because everyone here is so welcoming and nice,” Brothers said.
According to Marmor, Holy Redeemer has played a large part in her knowledge of the faith.
“It’s a nice safe space because you know that God’s here with you, and they’ve taught us so much about [being Catholic], if I didn’t go here, I don’t think I’d know as much as I do about Him,” Marmor said.
