Throughout our deanery, the month of May once again blossomed with heartfelt devotion to Our Lady, following the cherished tradition of honouring Mary with special prayers and beautiful floral crowns. This sacred custom reminds us of Mary’s place in our hearts as the Mother of the Church and our loving guide.
In the Parish of the Good Shepherd, the church of St Thomas of Canterbury introduced a wonderful new tradition this May, which you can see in the photograph. Thanks to the dedication of parishioners Haz and Sheila, a stunning floral display was lovingly created to celebrate May as the Month of Mary. The flowers, generously donated by fellow parishioners, were carefully arranged over several days into a display that attracted many visitors who stopped to admire and pray. Liz, a regular visitor, shared her joy: “It has been a real joy and it is hoped it will become an annual tradition. Simply beautiful.”
At St Martha’s Church in Little Common, the Crowning of the Virgin took place on 4th May in a moving and joyful celebration. The Mass began in the parish hall with a hymn to Our Lady, after which the children of the parish led a procession through the car park into the church.
As the statue of Our Lady was carried by two men, the children strewed flower petals along the path, symbolizing their love and reverence. Once inside, the children crowned the statue with a wreath made of fresh flowers—a moment filled with reverence and joy. At St Wilfrid’s, Hailsham, St George’s Polegate and Christ the King Langney, the children also took part in crowning Our Lady. They made a crown of flowers during children’s liturgy and then either during or after mass crowned the statues whilst singing ‘Bring flowers of the rarest’—continuing this beautiful tradition of honouring Mary in their parish community.
Meanwhile, at Sacred Heart School in Hastings, Fr Eamonn led the annual Mary procession and adorned the statue of Mary in the school garden with flowers brought in by them. Fr Eamonn even wore his own crown made by the children—a joyful sign of shared faith and celebration.
These beautiful expressions of devotion across our deanery are a wonderful reminder of the special place Mary holds in our spiritual lives. May these May devotions continue to inspire us throughout the year to seek her loving intercession and guidance.