The annual Marian devotion week rosary prayer service at Immaculate Heart of Mary School was held in the gymnasium on Friday, May 4. Second graders offered flowers to Mary in an opening procession as the choir led the gathering in the hymn “Immaculate Mary.”

Father John Shramko, chaplain of St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, offered a reflection on Mary and then began the recitation of the rosary.

Ruthie Patch, second-grade teacher, received a special service award for her numerous years of faithful service to the IHM school family, including preparing hundreds of students to receive their first communion. She was given the honor of crowning Mary.

First-grade students recited the poem “Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue,” a tradition at the school. Many of the older students joined in, remembered the lines from when they were in first grade.

Lisa Olwine, a representative from Birthright, gave thanks to the school community for the generous donations collected during the week, comparing the students to the innkeeper who helped the baby Jesus and his family, as the IHM community has helped many unborn and newborn babies and their mothers.