2,000 Come Together to Celebrate “A Day With Mary”

On May 31, 2025, the Archdiocese of Toronto welcomed 2,000 Catholics from across the archdiocese for  A Day With Mary, held at Villanova College in King City.  The celebration coincided with the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and featured prayer, catechesis, and joyful fellowship centered on devotion to Our Lady. The weather was damp and cool for spring and so while the event was planned for outdoors, Mass shifted indoors, where Frank Cardinal Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto presided, along with Bishop John A. Boissonneau and approximately 20 priests from the Greater Toronto Area, who also heard confessions throughout the day.

Event Highlights

• Keynote Address by Dr. Josephine Lombardi: The renowned speaker delivered an inspiring talk entitled “Mary, A Sure Sign of Hope”, reflecting on the Blessed Mother’s enduring role in the life of the Church.
  
  
• Solemn Mass with Cardinal Frank Leo: His Eminence presided over the 11:45 a.m. liturgy, commemorating Mary's visitation to Elizabeth. The cardinal emphasized the humility of Mary to go out to share the good news with her cousin Elizabeth. His Eminence then explained that when Mary spoke to Elizabeth, the child in her womb leapt for joy; this joy is always present when Jesus and Mary are present.
  
  Cardinal Leo then elucidated on the Magnificat which was the gospel of the day using examples from the book “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Louis de Montfort. The Cardinal spoke about chanting the Magnificat while at the May 2025 conclave and looking up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to meditate in the presence of Michelangelo’s inspiring painting, admiring the masterpiece and then realizing that Mary is the Masterpiece of God. He stressed that Mary is the mould who fashions us into Jesus: she is the surest and shortest way for us to Jesus.
  
  His Eminence explained that when we honour the Mother of God, we honour God as we are keeping the commandments. Christ gave Mary to St. John as his and our Mother, so we, by duty of keeping the commandments, are called to honour her.
  
  Quoting St. Louis de Montfort, he continued: When the Holy Spirit finds Our Lady in our Heart through True Devotion, the Holy Spirit flies to us and fills us with His Fruits. Cardinal Leo explained then how to increase our relationship with Our Lady: by bringing Mary home into our families, our work and all the areas and relationships of our life. He stressed the importance of doing the consecration to Our Lady using the method of St. Louis de Montfort as found in the aforementioned book. His Eminence invited us to imitate her virtues - her faith, her charity, her purity. Lastly, he invited those gathered to pray to Jesus a prayer of St. Anselm:
  
  “O good Son,
  by the love you bear your Mother,
  to grant to me that I may truly love her.
  And you, O Good Mother,
  I beg you by the love that you bear your Son,
  to pray for me that I may truly love him.”
  
  
• Holy Rosary Procession & Crowning: In the afternoon, despite the inclement weather, attendees joined in a moving procession, culminating in the crowning of a Marian statue.
  
  
• Faith Formation for All Ages: While adults reflected on Dr. Lombardi’s talk and powerful witness testimonies, children participated in engaging catechesis sessions, carefully prepared by those engaged in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd throughout the archdiocese.
  
  
• Music, Food, and Fellowship: The joyful atmosphere included hymns, shared meals, and opportunities for families to connect.
  
  

A Day of Grace and Renewal

The event provided a meaningful opportunity for the faithful to grow in devotion to Mary while strengthening bonds as an archdiocesan family. Many expressed gratitude for the chance to pray together with Cardinal Leo, who encouraged attendees to imitate Mary’s faith and generosity.

“Seeing so many families united in love for Our Lady was truly uplifting,” said one participant.

“The Rosary procession, most especially, was a powerful moment of prayer for our Church and the world,” added a young mother of five.

The event served as a reminder of Mary’s enduring witness of hope—and the joy that comes when we, like her, say “yes” to God’s will. “My soul magnifies the Lord!” (Luke 1:46)

Special thanks to all those involved in the planning and organizing of “A Day with Mary” and to all those who braved the cool weather to make the trek to King City.

Text provided by Gaudium Press. Compiled by Raju Hasmuth.
Photos provided by Richard Valenti.