We had planned an event for each month of this year (click here for listing of events) to mark the sesquicentennial arrival of the Little Sisters in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
For the month of May, it was decided to have a Rosary Procession and May Crowning outdoors. Our maintenance men did a marvelous job of cleaning and restoring the statues of Our Lady of Fatima, the three children and the sheep.
We contacted the 8th grade teacher at Sacred Heart Academy, in Cambria Heights, to see if they would be interested in taking part as they did for our Day of Prayer for Vocations on September 29, 2017. Not only did we get a positive response, but this year the 7th graders wanted to take part as well!
May 9 was chosen as the day to honor Our Lady. The weather was in our favor and so, at 10 a.m., Residents, Little Sisters, novices and postulants, Associates, volunteers and students from Sacred Heart Academy, gathered in the auditorium to begin the rosary. All followed the cross and candle bearers as they made their way out the front door. Marian hymns were sung as the procession made its way around.
The Glorious Mysteries were prayed and the first mystery was recited around the circle of the Home where one of our volunteers was the Risen Christ.
The next stop was the Millenium Garden where Christ and the Eleven (students of Sacred Heart Academy) were gathered before the Ascension of the Lord.
After the meditation was read, Christ disappeared in the garden to signify the Ascension. The third mystery was prayed near our back porch where an Associate, who played Mary, was gathered with the now twelve Apostles.
During the reading of the meditation, a “dove” descended from a window on the second floor to signify the descent of the Holy Spirit. For the fourth mystery, Mary and the Apostles were gathered on the back lawn and after the decade was recited, Mary disappeared behind a tree to signify the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.
As the procession arrived at the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Mary Goldback, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday on June 6, was pushed forward carrying the floral crown for Our Lady. The volunteer who played Christ crowned the statue as everyone sang “Bring Flowers of the Rarest.” The fifth decade was then recited.
After the recitation of the “Hail, Holy Queen,” everyone made their way to the chapel for Mass. As “thank you” and “good-byes” were exchanged after Mass, the 8th grade teacher told one of the Little Sisters that they would be back next year.
Rosary Procession and May Crowning