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Praying and honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May has been a Catholic tradition since the seventeenth century. This devotion to Mary is especially meaningful to IHMS because of her prominence in the school???s name, and in the order of Sisters who own and operate the school. |
For the past 12 years, IHMS has initiated a prayer service and rosary walk for Mary in May, and this year it was held on Friday, May 24th.
The prayer service began with students and staff gathering in the school gym at 9:00 a.m. immediately after the morning???s opening exercises.
As usual, the students sat on the floor facing a temporary altar that was set up in the center of the gym. The altar held various statues and icons of Mary that were collected from prayer corners from each of the different classrooms.
With the students quietly sitting on the gym floor, Mrs. Stanowych began the prayer service by leading the girl???s performing group in a song entitled ???Come Holy Spirit???.
| Mr. Picklyk then welcomed everyone and spent some time talking about the Holy Spirit and how to pray the rosary – 10 “Hail Marys” followed by an “Our Father”. Students were reminded earlier to bring a rosary from home, but those that forgot were able to keep track using their 10 fingers. |  |
Sister Anne Pidskalny, SSMI then read a passage from the Gospel about Mary???s visitation from the angel Gabriel. The passage described Gabriel???s announcement to Mary that she will be giving birth to the Son of God.
Next, Gabriele P. (student council vice-president) and Darian P. read a set of petitions, after which everyone replied: ???Oh Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us???. Mr. Picklyk then called a preselected student from each grade to approach the altar and receive either an icon or statue of Mary. These students had volunteered to carry an icon or statue while leading their class on the walk around the school.
The procession began with the Kindergarten and grade 8 students (who paired up together), followed by the grade 1 and grade 7 students (who also paired up together), followed by the rest of the grades. Michael K. (the student council president) led the procession with the school???s large icon of the Blessed Mother.
The procession moved:
1. Out of the side door of the gym
2. Through the front gates and west down the sidewalk to McKenzie St.
3. South on McKenzie St. to the school???s back lane
4. Down the back lane to the large car gates
5. Across the school yard and out the front gates again
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Basically, the students walked through the playground and around the school twice. The entire walk lasted about 10 minutes. During the walk, the students recited the rosary, and continued to do so for 2 complete laps around the school.
After the second lap, everybody filed back into the gym to finish off the rosary and to sing ???Immaculate Mary??? as a closing hymn.
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A Winnipeg radio station, CKJS, has been praying the rosary from 10:30 – 10:45 every weeknight for the past 36 years. CKJS can be found at 810 on the AM dial. |