Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

  • Fifth-grade students at St. Thomas More School perform songs for their mothers during a May Crowning and Mother's Day Mass held at the church on May 3. From left to right are Elliot Ramer, Marley Madden, and Trey Thomas. Photo by Johnathon Kelso
  • First-grade student Harlan Kelso, left, and second-grade student Charlotte Pettus, right, photographed before processing to the altar during a May Crowning at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur. Both students recently received first Eucharist. Photo by Johnathon Kelso
  • Jonah Eldaif, third grader, looks to the light during a May Crowning and Mother's Day Mass held at St. Thomas More church on May 3. Photo by Johnathon Kelso
  • Ryleigh Corthran reads a poem written for her mother during a Mass held at St. Thomas More Church on May 3. Corthran is in the fifth grade. Photo by Johnathon Kelso
  • St. Thomas More student Abigail Cobb and her mother Jinny Cobb sing the entrance hymn during a May Crowning Mass held at St. Thomas More Church Photo by Johnathon Kelso
  • Second-grade student Charlotte Pettus, center, crowns Mary at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur. Harlan Kelso, first grader at left, brings Mary roses. Both students recently received first Eucharist. Photo by Johnathon Kelso

Fifth-grade students at St. Thomas More School perform songs for their mothers during a May crowning and Mother's Day Mass held at the church on May 3. From left to right are Elliot Ramer, Marley Madden and Trey Thomas. Photo by Johnathon Kelso

Decatur

A celebration of Mary and all mothers 

By GEORGIA BULLETIN STAFF | Published May 11, 2023

DECATUR—The Mother’s Day Mass and reception is a long-standing tradition for the fifth-grade students at St. Thomas More School.  

The students at the Decatur school lead the Mass and invite their moms or special friends to attend. This year’s Mass was Wednesday, May 3 and included a May crowning, a placement of flowers upon the statue of the Blessed Virgin. Many schools and churches hold May crownings this month, which is devoted to honoring Mary.  

The celebrant for the Mass was Father Jim Stormes, SJ, parochial vicar at St. Thomas More Church. 

Sixth-grade student Madison Doyle passes out programs during the May crowning and Mother’s Day Mass held at St. Thomas More Church on May 3. Photo by Johnathon Kelso

After the Mass, the students sang special songs for their guests and then hosted a reception where they presented their mothers or guests with poems they had written especially for them.  

This year’s Mother’s Day Mass was particularly meaningful because the eighth-grade students and their guests also attended. In 2020, when the current eighth graders were in fifth grade, they weren’t able to have the Mass due to the pandemic.