May is a special, joyful month at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. For Catholics around the world, May is traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, set aside for honoring her loving intercession and maternal care in the life of the Church. Rooted in centuries of devotion, this Marian focus infuses many Shrine activities with prayer, reverence, and community participation. In Polish culture especially, May carries additional significance: May 3 is celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady, Queen of Poland, commemorating both deep religious devotion and the anniversary of Europe’s first modern written constitution, adopted in 1791 – a historic day that binds faith and national pride. The highlight of this special day is a procession immediately following the Shrine’s 12:30 p.m. Polish Mass. All are invited to join and reflect on both their faith and cultural heritage.
The month of May also begins with the traditional Mother’s Day Novena which will be prayed from May 1 through May 9. During these nine days of prayer, intentions are offered for mothers – both living and deceased – as well as for their families and loved ones. All are encouraged to submit their intentions so they may be included in this special novena, asking the Blessed Mother to intercede for those we love and to bless all mothers with grace, strength, and peace.
Another of the Shrine’s most beloved recurring events in May is Fatima Day on May 13, held each year at 7 p.m.. On this day, the faithful Catholics gather for a solemn Mass, followed by a candlelit Rosary procession through the grounds. The Main Celebrant for this Mass will be the Most Rev. William J. Waltersheid, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Inspired by the 1917 apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, this observance invites everyone to pray for peace in the world and to entrust personal intentions to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. The Rosary procession, often prayed in multiple languages, winds through the Shrine’s beautiful outdoor spaces, creating a moving witness of prayer and community devotion.
Then on May 14, the Shrine celebrates the Ascension of Our Lord, a central feast in the liturgical calendar that honors Christ’s triumphant return to the Father 40 days after Easter. On this Holy Day of Obligation, the Pauline Fathers invite everyone to reflect on the call to live as witnesses to the risen Lord in the world. Masses will be at 7:30 a.m, 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. in Polish, 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the Lower Church. A Vigil Mass will also be on May 13 at 5:00 p.m..
Together, these May observances at the Shrine – Mothers’ Day Novena (May 1-9), Feast of Our Lady (May 3), Fatima Day (May 13), the Ascension (May 14), and Pentecost (May 24) – weave a tapestry of faith that reflects deep Marian devotion, Christ’s redemptive mission, and the life-giving power of the Spirit. Whether one comes to pray in the Rosary garden or to participate in the processions and Masses, the month of May offers many chances to deepen spiritual life and experience the richness of Catholic tradition.