Catholics hold annual May Procession to honor Mary, mother of Jesus, in Perryville

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Kara Kassel has attended May Processions since she was a child and Sunday she had the responsibility of placing a crown of flowers on a statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, at the event in Perryville.

Kassel, a senior at St. Vincent High School in Perryville, was one of many in the annual event’s opening procession that included such groups as first communicants, a confirmation class and high school seniors as well as Knights of Columbus.

“It’s kind of actually nerve-wracking,” she said about the “high honor” of placing the crown on the statue. “It means a lot to me just ’cause, like, I’ve been going to May Processions since I was little. And just watching it all happen and stuff. It’s just really amazing, honestly.”

Worshipers packed into St. Vincent de Paul Church for the experience, which was kicked off by the procession.

The Rev. Kevin McCracken said it has been a long time with “the month of May being dedicated to our lady.”

McCracken said Catholics believe Jesus Christ made his mother, Mary, to be “the queen of heaven” and also “our mother, the queen of Earth.” The May crowning, he said, is a way to honor Mary as their mother and queen as well as a way to “renew our own devotion, dedication to her and to her son.”

The annual event was supposed to be held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, but was moved “due to recent and upcoming weather conditions,” according to the Association of the Miraculous Medal website.

Although it was not raining at the time of the Sunday event, Don Fulford, president and CEO of the association, said with rain in the previous days there was a safety concern with the elderly utilizing the grass hillside seating at the shrine.

“It’s one of the old traditions of the church,” Fulford said about the May crowning. “For me, what it means the most, is that it’s a part of our rich history as Catholics.”

The May Processions have been taking place for nearly a century beginning in 1921, according to AMM volunteer coordinator Frank Ryan.

“It just brings a smile to your face to see the young men and women coming up and to be integrated into their faith,” Fulford said.

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