May is a time of renewal, the Earth springs into bloom, we plant our gardens and plan our summer vacations.  May is also the Month of Mary.  For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of May to honor Mary, Mother of God.  The idea of a month dedicated specifically to Mary can be traced back to baroque times.  The way Mary is honored in May is as varied as the people who honor her.  It is common for parishes to have daily recitation of the Rosary during May.  Many families may dedicate a special alter to Mary in their homes.  In addition, it is a long standing tradition to crown the statue of Mary during May.  This event is known as May Crowning.  The crown offered to Mary is made od blossoms representing Mary's beauty and virtue.  The flower crown is a physical reminder to all faithful to strive to imitate our Blessed Mother's virtue and understanding in our own lives.  Here at HCA, we celebrate May Crowning in a very special way.  On May 25th, our newly 2nd grade students, whom have just received the Sacrament of Holy Communion will lead a Mass dedicated to Mary.  During this Mass, our student will crown Mary.  The statue will then come back to HCA and become a reminder to all who enter our halls, the importance of Mary in our lives.