Local Catholic Schools Celebrate May Crowning [PHOTOS]

May is a busy month in the school calendar: graduations, awards ceremonies and banquets, and, for many Catholic schools, a special celebration called a May crowning.

The Catholic Church recognizes May as the month of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some Catholic schools make the traditional May crowning a part of their end-of-the-year ceremonies as a way to honor her. It's a beautiful, prayerful service that usually involves each child presenting a flower or flowers to The Blessed Mother, and then placing a crown of flowers on her head.

With more than 400,000 Catholics in between the Atchafalaya Basin and the Texas border and a few dozen Catholic schools, many May crownings happen throughout the month. Kindergarten children most often do the presentation, but everyone can take part.