Annual Crowning of Mary Ceremony Takes Place at OLPH

The annual Crowning of Mary ceremony was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on May 14. Sr. Maureen Hurley was chosen to perform the crowning this year. 

The event featured a reading led by Sr. Maureen and songs. 

The Crowning of Mary tradition dates back to the 700s, with the month of May becoming an important factor in the 18th century when a Jesuit priest dedicated the month to Mary in an attempt to foster college students’ devotion. 

The ceremony often consists of placing a crown on a statue of Mary to honor her as Queen of Heaven. 

Staff member Karen Murphy shared how the tradition started at OLPH through her friend, a Catholic school teacher in Jackson Heights.

“[My friend] said maybe the sisters would like to do this. So she gave me the book and I started it up. We kept making copies, and we kept doing it every year. Pick somebody else,” said Karen, referencing the booklets handed out at the ceremony. 

She also shared how a Sister is chosen to do the crowning. 

“I really keep track because I don't want to pick the same person. So this year, Sister Maureen just happened to be the oldest that has not done it,” she said. “You go by the Jubilee, their age, how long they've been here. No real science.”

There has been a tradition of choosing the oldest or longest professed Sister at the convent. 

In 2024, Sr. Irene Arsenault was chosen because she was the longest professed at OLPH who hadn’t previously had the honor of doing the crowning.