AMM Flowers of May celebration started with a procession of the faithful carrying their lovely bouquets of flowers for our Blessed Mother Mary as they prayed Ithe Rosary and sang the Hail Mary Hymn in Spanish ‘Dios te Salve Maria’. A song traditionally sang at processions honouring Our Mother Mary in the Philippines and in various Spanish enriched countries. The procession was graced with the statues of the Immaculate Concepcion and Our Lady of Fatima carried by the faithful devotees Maricel and Ramila.
Fr. Kevin Canty CM, the AMM Spiritual Adviser celebrated the Novena Mass and gave an inspiring homily. At the conclusion of the celebration, Fr. Canty blessed all the beautiful flowers offered.
After sharing in the Lord’s breaking of the bread at the Eucharist, the community shared the Lord’s love as everyone joyfully gathered for morning tea after the celebration. It is hoped that this celebration will continue on every year with more young ones in attendance so that this tradition is passed on to the next generations.
O Blessed Mother Mary obtain for us of thy Divine Son joyful faith, firm hope & trust and unconditional love of God!
‘Flores de Mayo’ 2025 Novena Mass at Marsfield NSW
Statue of Our Lady of Grace (Miraculous Medal) in the Philippines Swarm Cheng, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Join us for a special event, ‘Flores de Mayo‘, in honoring Our Blessed Mother. We will commence with a beautiful procession around the church, offering prayers, flowers, and saying the Holy Rosary. This will then lead to the first Saturday of the month Miraculous Medal novena mass inside the church.
Bring your family, flower offering, prayers and food-to-share in this sacred and meaningful celebration! Light refreshments to be provided after the novena mass. Feel free to Contact Us or email at info@amm.org.au for any questions.
The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Our Lady. This tradition began as early as the 13th century. In the Northern Hemisphere, May is considered a season of growth and flourishing. It is also a time for the renewal of nature. This period is closely connected to the Incarnation. It is when Mary gave her “yes” to God. She birthed our Lord Jesus Christ into the world. This devotion became even more popular in the 1700s. It gained popularity among students in the Jesuit Order. It was also celebrated in the Gesu Church in Rome. This led to its spread to the wider church. Interestingly, in Italy, the Flores de Mayo devotion started among the Jesuit Orders. Its purpose was to “counteract immorality and infidelity” among its students. It then spread to the other churches in the Latin Rite.
Many Popes have strongly advocated devotion to Our Lady in the church. This is especially true from the 19th century onward. Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. Pope Pius XII wrote about it in his encyclical on the Sacred Liturgy Mediator Dei in 1947. Pope Paul VI included it in his encyclical Mense Maio in 1965. Around 1854, the devotion became an integral part of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. This occurred during the time of Spanish colonization. Every year in May, flowers are offered to Our Lady. This happens daily across the Philippines. Read more at Vatican News: Flores de Mayo: Commemoration of Mary in the Philippines
It is also no coincidence that many Marian Feasts occur in May: 13th – Our Lady of Fatima, 24th – Help of Christians, and 31st – the Visitation). During this time the faithful are encouraged to foster and renew their devotions to Our Lady as Mother of Jesus and of the Church especially through the Rosary, Marian Novenas and Processions.
On Saturday, 22nd June 2024 a Novena Mass in honour of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was celebrated at St Agatha’s Parish, Pennant Hills.
This was the first Novena Mass in honour of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal to be celebrated at the Parish. Parishioners (Mercedes and Lita) who have been long-time regulars of the First Saturday Novena Masses at St Anthony’s, Marsfield, were looking forward to bringing the Novena Mass to their beloved parish of St Agatha’s in Pennant Hills to spread devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in the wider community. Parishioners, Mercedes and Lita, together with the Legion of Mary group in the Parish, and with the support of the AMM in Marsfield, ran the event, which started with Holy Mass at 10.30 a.m. and ended with morning tea fellowship.
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