By Suzette Fuentes - St. Theresa School (Little Flower)
St. Theresa seventh graders created a living rosary on the altar of Little Flower Church in Coral Gables during the schoolwide celebration of the month of Mary, May 12, 2023.
St. Theresa eighth grader Lilianne Calvo crowns the statue of Mary on the altar of Little Flower Church in Coral Gables during the schoolwide celebration of the month of Mary, May 12, 2023.
St. Theresa School seventh graders, after performing a living rosary, prepare to offer flowers to Mary during the schoolwide celebration of the month of Mary, May 12, 2023.
Father Manny Alvarez, pastor of Little Flower Church in Coral Gables, joins students from St. Theresa School in offering a flower to Mary during the schoolwide celebration of the month of Mary, May 12, 2023.
Statue of Mary crowned with flowers at Little Flower Church in Coral Gables, the culmination of a month-long celebration led by St. Theresa School student during the month of May 2023.
Photography: COURTESY
CORAL GABLES | Throughout the month of Mary — May — every student at St. Theresa School in Coral Gables, from ages four to 14, offered their hearts to the Blessed Mother in a series of flower-filled ceremonies.
Photographer: COURTESY
Students in pre-K through kindergarten bestow flowers upon the statue of the Virgin Mary in the school’s yard during St. Theresa School's celebration of the month of Mary, May 1-9 and 12, 2023.
Joined by their parents from May 1-9, 2023, the littlest children (students in pre-K3 through kindergarten) paid honor to Mary by praying in unison, singing songs they learned just for the occasion and bestowing flowers upon the statue of the Virgin Mary in the school’s yard.
During a larger celebration May 12 at the Church of the Little Flower, St. Theresa's eighth graders had the honor of leading a holy tribute in a church filled with elementary and middle school students, parents, staff and members of the congregation. Every eighth-grade student participated: narrating the mysteries of the rosary accompanied by a live tableau, reciting prayers aloud throughout each decade, and placing the rose crown on the Blessed Virgin.
“Our eighth graders, who received their sacrament of confirmation in February, consecrate themselves to Jesus through Mary at this moment. They give all that is precious in their lives to her and trust that she will give it to Jesus,” said Sister Catherine Marie, of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, who teaches religion to seventh and eighth graders.
In what has become a St. Theresa tradition, an honor guard of second graders stood, yellow roses in hand, as “soldiers of Christ” welcoming the procession of eighth graders into the church.
Taking turns, eighth graders then led the congregation through each decade while a group of seventh graders created a living rosary on the altar, bringing Mary’s faith and love to life for the hundreds in attendance that morning.
The moving event concluded with the crowning of Mary by Lilianne Calvo accompanied by Roberto Echeverri, and the offering of flowers to Mary by everyone in attendance.
“It is so beautiful to know that the entire school participates in honoring Our Lady who brings to us her son,” said Sister Catherine Marie.
