About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Belmont, California
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (IHM) is a Roman Catholic parish serving Belmont, California and surrounding communities on the San Francisco Peninsula. It is part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Francisco. The parish is known for celebrating both the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite in English and a weekly Traditional Latin Mass on Sundays at 4:00 PM. It also operates Immaculate Heart of Mary School, a STREAM-focused pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic elementary school founded in 1952 on the same historic site.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Mark G. Mazza
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers an unusually rich liturgical life for a parish its size, with daily Mass Monday through Saturday at 8:15 AM, four Sunday Masses including a Traditional Latin Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust parish school serving pre-K through 8th grade. Its ministries — St. Vincent de Paul Society, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, OCIA for adults and children, Teen Confirmation, Consecration to St. Joseph Men's Group, adult catechism series, and multiple parish choirs — give newcomers of every age a way to belong and to serve.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (per parish bulletins)
- Saturday: 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (per joinmychurch.com archive)
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (First Saturday, per Discover Mass)
- Holy Thursday: Adoration until 10:00 PM following Mass of the Lord's Supper
Parish Identity & Location
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is a Catholic parish of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Francisco, located at 1040 Alameda de las Pulgas in Belmont, California — a residential community on the San Francisco Peninsula between Redwood City and San Mateo. The parish is pastored by Fr. Mark G. Mazza, with Fr. Rufino Gepiga serving as Parochial Vicar. The parish phone line is (650) 593-6157.
- 1040 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont, CA 94002
- Phone: (650) 593-6157
- Archdiocese: San Francisco
- Pastor: Rev. Mark G. Mazza
History of the Parish & Campus
Belmont was first served as a mission of St. Charles Parish in San Carlos in 1922. The community was established as its own parish under the title Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1947, and the parish immediately founded its school, which opened in September 1952 in St. James Hall. The 10-acre property carries a continuous educational legacy going back to 1885, when the Belmont School for Boys occupied the site.
- 1885: Belmont School for Boys founded on the site
- 1918: Archbishop Edward J. Hanna purchases it for the Archdiocese
- 1922: Belmont served as a mission of St. Charles Parish, San Carlos
- 1947: IHM established as a parish; first pastor Fr. Daniel I. Riordan
- 1952: Parish school opens
- 1962: Present school building opens (blessed by Archbishop McGucken in 1963)
- 2003: New Parish Center blessed by Archbishop Levada
- 2010: Montessori-inspired Preschool begins
- 2020: New STREAM Lab dedicated
- 2021: New Science Lab 'Lablearner' dedicated
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
IHM offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for unbaptized adults and for Christians from other traditions entering into full communion with the Catholic Church. An adapted OCIA track is available for children over age 7 who are unbaptized or uncatechized. Sessions are ongoing throughout the year and begin with a one-on-one meeting.
- OCIA for adults (four-stage process culminating at the Easter Vigil)
- OCIA Adapted for Children & Teens
- Teen Confirmation (grades 8-12, two-year program, September–May)
- Adult Catechism Series
- Contact: [email protected], 650-593-6157 x1022
IHM School
Immaculate Heart of Mary School is a Catholic pre-K through 8th-grade elementary school sharing the parish campus. Founded in 1952, it serves as a STREAM school (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) with offerings that include Foreign Language/Spanish, Makerspace/Technology, Art, and middle-school electives such as Robotics, Photography, Coding, Advanced Drawing and Painting, American Sign Language, French, Cooking, and Yearbook/Journalism.
- Founded 1952 (current building opened 1962)
- STREAM Lab dedicated 2020; Science Lab 'Lablearner' dedicated 2021
- Kindergarten added 1975; Extended Care since 1988; Preschool since 2010
- Extracurriculars include Choir, Student Council, Baseball, Volleyball, Golf, Basketball, Track, Jr. Pom Squad, Chess, Lego League, and Gymnastics
- Current Principal: Dr. Andrea Harville (2020–Present)
- Website: ihmschoolbelmont.org
Music Ministry
Music at IHM involves cantors and choirs serving the parish's English and Latin liturgies. The Music Ministry includes several ensembles spanning children, youth, and adults, giving singers a lifelong way to serve the liturgy.
- Seedling Choir (K–2): Wednesdays 3:30–4:00 PM
- Gregory Choir (grades 3–8): Wednesdays 4:00–4:45 PM
- Chamber Choir
- Adult Choirs
- Resurrection Choir (parish-family funeral ministry)
Outreach & Parish Ministries
IHM runs several outreach and prayer ministries rooted in traditional Catholic works of mercy. Volunteers and team members support the elderly, sick, homebound, and those in financial or spiritual need.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Intercessory Prayer Ministry (prayer requests prayed for 30 days; contact Carolyne Bosque via the parish office)
- Ministry to the Sick, Elderly and Homebound — bringing Communion and the Word to homes and assisted-living facilities (Fr. Cameron Pollette)
- Consecration to St. Joseph Men's Group
- Adult Catechism Series
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, with information and registration handled through the parish office.
- Baptism
- Confirmation (Teen program; also for adults via OCIA)
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Reconciliation (Saturday afternoon and by appointment)
- Marriage (call parish office)
- Anointing of the Sick / visits to the homebound
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Daniel I. Riordan1947-1950
First pastor, established the new parish
- Msgr. John J. Kenny1950-1981
Administrator 1950-1951; Pastor 1951-1981; led parish during school founding and growth
- Fr. William A. O'Connell1981-1990
- Fr. James H. MacDonald1990-2001
- Fr. Daniel E. Carter2001-2003
- Fr. Joseph P. Healy2002
Administrator
- Fr. Stephen H. Howell2002-2016
Administrator 2002-2004, Pastor 2004-2016
- Fr. Mark G. Mazza2018-Present
Former pastor of Star of the Sea Church in San Francisco; learned to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass in 2012