Our Patroness

St. Mary, also known as the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the mother of Jesus Christ and holds a central role in Christianity. She is venerated in Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and some Protestant traditions.

Life and Role in Christianity

• Mary was a young Jewish woman from Nazareth.
• The Angel Gabriel announced to her that she would conceive Jesus through the Holy Spirit (Annunciation – Luke 1:26-38).
• She is seen as a model of faith, humility, and obedience to God.
• Mary was present at Jesus' birth, his first miracle at the wedding in Cana, and his crucifixion.

Titles and Devotion

• Mother of God (Theotokos) – Defined at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD).
• Queen of Heaven – Honored as the spiritual mother of all believers.
• Immaculate Conception – Catholic belief that Mary was conceived without original sin.
• Assumption of Mary – The belief that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven.

Apparitions & Feast Days

• Our Lady of Lourdes (France, 1858)
• Our Lady of Fatima (Portugal, 1917)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, 1531)

Feast Days:

• January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
• March 25 – Annunciation
• August 15 – Assumption
• December 8 – Immaculate Conception