As a Catholic, I was taught that Mary would intercede in my behalf when I prayed to her. In other words, when I prayed to Mary or saints, they would plead with me and for me and help my prayers reach the ears of God - that's what I was taught anyway.
Also, many Catholics pray to saints and have their own favourites. Many Catholics don't. But whether you do or not, you are not booted out of the church - the choice is yours. Just because I am no longer a Catholic does not mean that my friends from that church shun me. They still talk to me, visit etc. They don't hold it against me because I left the church. How different to the WT society.
xxR