ST. RAYMOND PARISH CELEBRATES MAY CROWNING

St. Raymond Elementary School students and St. Raymond Religious Education students, together with families, friends and parishioners, celebrated the May Crowning in the plaza outside of St. Raymond Church on Sunday, May 13. In the Catholic Church, the month of May is traditionally devoted to honoring Mary. An annual event, the May Crowning recognizes Mary as queen of heaven and earth.

Participants, including Father Rivera, alternately singing and praying the Rosary, followed a statue of the Blessed Mother in a procession from the church plaza, around the corner and eventually back to the plaza. Szandred Aquino Cruz from the Religious Education Program carried Mary's crown and Astrid Acosta of Class 2-105 crowned the statue of the Blessed Mother.

Father Cruz, Father Lorenzo and Deacon Vazquez also were present at the May Crowning, as were Sister Adelina Garcia, Director of Religious Education for the parish, and Eugene Scanlon, principal of St. Raymond Elementary School. Following the procession, participants attended the 10:30 Mass, which was celebrated by Father Raphael.