Bull, my priests are consistent......so is my Bible study nun in class.......in fact, I haven’t heard them mention Mary in ages. Respect for Mary does not have to involve anything more than the same respect you have for your own mother. It is NOT required. Go talk to a Catholic priest and ask him. I speak the truth. I was baptized Catholic and “converted” as an adult as I was raised without attending any church. I asked plenty of questions. Believe me, the priest would hear the same question over and over....as I was processing it all.....and was not “getting it”.
OTOH, I have recited the Rosary....as a mother concerned about her children’s path in life....I have found it very useful and it produces amazing results.
I am an adult convert, so to speak, and I know more about my faith than many cradle Catholics. I speak truth.
Not sure about your priest, but belief in the Immaculate conception and the Assumption are not optional. Neither is anything defined by the Magesterium. Your priest is wrong.
The Vatican system is huge.
One can find almost any focus &/or excess in some corner of it.
Some excesses are more pervasive than others . . . and in some regions than others.