About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Indianapolis, Indiana
Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) is a Catholic parish on the north side of Indianapolis, Indiana, located in the heart of the Meridian Kessler neighborhood at 5692 N. Central Avenue. Founded on December 8, 1946, when Father Edwin Sahm celebrated the first Mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, IHM is one of nine parishes in the North Deanery of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, close to the Broad Ripple and Butler University areas. The parish has grown from 342 founding families to roughly 1,230 families today, anchored by a parish school serving about 434 students in grades K-8 and a Sunday Faith Formation program for more than 80 children. IHM's mission is to be a vibrant Catholic community rooted in the Gospel, offering dynamic liturgy, lifelong faith formation, and broad outreach to the Indianapolis community and beyond.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Very Rev. Patrick (Pat) Beideleman, VF
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis (North Deanery, one of nine parishes)
Why belong here
IHM is a parish that combines the warmth of a mid-century north-side Catholic community with a deeply lived-out commitment to service and formation. With about 1,230 families, it sustains both a K-8 parish school of around 434 students and a Sunday Faith Formation program, so families can walk the sacramental and educational journey together from childhood through OCIA. Worship is supported by daily Mass Monday through Thursday and a chapel open for Communion services every weekday morning, plus regular reconciliation — and outreach runs deep through its own St. Vincent de Paul Conference, the Respect Life ministry, Service Saturdays, the Advent Giving Tree, and partnerships with the St. Thomas food pantry and St. Anthony's school. For anyone seeking a parish where faith formation, dynamic liturgy, and concrete service to Indianapolis neighbors are all taken seriously, IHM offers an unusually full life.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After daily Mass (Monday–Thursday 5:30 pm; Friday 8:00 am)
- Community penance services offered seasonally (see parish schedule)
Parish History & 75th Anniversary
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish was officially founded on December 8, 1946, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, when Father Edwin Sahm celebrated the first Mass. Two years later, in 1948, Father Sahm and a dedicated group of parishioners founded the parish school. IHM marked its 75th anniversary on December 8, 2021, with a 6:00 pm Mass concelebrated by then-pastor Father Bob (who celebrated his own 50th ordination anniversary on December 18, 2021) and former pastors Fr. David Lawler and Fr. Jeff Godecker. The parish marked the milestone with 75 days of faith, community, and service activities, including a traveling statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary that visited families before being placed permanently in the day chapel.
- Founded December 8, 1946, by Fr. Edwin Sahm
- Parish school founded 1948
- 75th anniversary celebrated December 8, 2021
- Father Bob's 50th ordination anniversary: December 18, 2021
Parish Staff & Leadership
Father Pat Beideleman became pastor of IHM in the summer of 2023, bringing prior experience in multiple Archdiocesan parishes and leadership of the Secretariat for Worship and Evangelization at the Catholic Center. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Michael Clawson. A professional staff supports parish operations, faith formation, music, communications, business, and the school. Parish and school governance is shared with elected Pastoral Council, Family Life & Faith Formation Commission, School Commission, Technology Commission, and Finance Commission members.
- Pastor: Fr. Pat Beideleman, VF
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Michael Clawson
- Director of Finance & Administration: Anna Harvey
- Director of Evangelization & Discipleship (DED): Kaitlyn Blandford
- Director of Music Ministries: Joe Burrows
- Communications Coordinator: Rose Fine
- Parish Council Chair: Patrick Rodgers
- Director of Sports Ministry: Annie Rumer
- Facilities Manager: Tom Parkes
- Administrative Assistants: Kelli Ayres, Anne Hurley, Julie Tomich
- Receptionist: Dottie Morris
- Online Stewardship/IT Assistant: Katie Graf
- Accounts Payable/Tuition: Karen Winternheimer
Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Founded in 1948 by Father Edwin Sahm and an inspired group of parishioners, Immaculate Heart of Mary School serves students in grades K-8 at 317 E. 57th Street, Indianapolis. The school enrolls about 434 students drawn from the parish and surrounding neighborhoods and is committed to academic excellence within a Catholic, faith-based community. The school is led by Principal Chris Kolakovich and Assistant Principal Kyle Burkholder, with governance support from the IHM School Commission.
- Founded 1948 by Fr. Edwin Sahm
- Grades K-8, ~434 students
- Address: 317 E. 57th St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
- Phone: 317-255-5468
- Principal: Chris Kolakovich
- Assistant Principal: Kyle Burkholder
- School Secretary: Alysha Leuer
Faith Formation & Religious Education
IHM offers faith formation for all ages, coordinated through the Family Life & Faith Formation Commission under Director of Evangelization & Discipleship Kaitlyn Blandford. Sunday Family Faith (SFF) gathers more than 80 children weekly, while the parish school carries formation for K-8 during the week. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) walks adults into full communion with the Catholic Church, and Vacation Bible School and Children's Liturgy of the Word extend formation to younger children.
- Sunday Family Faith (SFF)
- Vacation Bible School
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Parish school K-8 religious education
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is central to IHM's identity. The IHM Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society — the largest Catholic lay charity in the United States — meets twice a month to provide direct aid to parishioners and neighbors. Service Saturdays mobilizes parishioners monthly for hands-on projects at local charities. Respect Life coordinates the March for Life, the October Respect Life Chain, Birthline baby-item drives, and May/October rosaries. The Advent Giving Tree supports St. Anthony families, the Boulevard Place Food Pantry, and Birthline each Christmas season. Additional partnerships include the St. Thomas Food Pantry, St. Anthony's School, Pax Christi, and the 'Getting Ahead' poverty-stability program run out of the Martin Luther King Center.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (IHM Conference) — meets 1st Wed. 7 pm and 3rd Sun. after 8 am Mass
- Service Saturdays — monthly service projects
- Respect Life ministry (March for Life, Respect Life Chain, Birthline drives)
- Advent Giving Tree
- St. Thomas Food Pantry partnership
- St. Anthony's School partnership
- Pax Christi
- Getting Ahead program at MLK Center
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Beyond outreach, IHM runs a wide range of parish ministries that knit the community together. These include the Endowment Committee, Spirituality Committee, Arts & Environment Committee, Knitting Ministry, Good Sam Committee, New Blessings (welcome ministry), Church Cleaning, Music Ministries, and Mass Ministries (liturgical roles such as lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, usher). Youth Ministries and Sports Ministry engage younger parishioners, and a new-pastor emphasis under Fr. Pat Beideleman is on bringing young people into the full life of the parish.
- Endowment Committee
- Spirituality Committee
- Arts & Environment
- Knitting Ministry
- Good Sam Committee
- New Blessings (welcome)
- Church Cleaning
- Music Ministries
- Mass Ministries
- Youth Ministries
- Sports Ministry
Commissions & Governance
Parish life at IHM is shaped by elected and appointed commissions that serve as consultative bodies to the pastor. The Pastoral Council chairs sit alongside Family Life & Faith Formation, School, Finance, and Technology Commissions, each with its own elected members serving three-year rotating terms. Together with the pastor and staff, these commissions share responsibility for the governance, planning, policy-making, and communication of parish life.
- Parish Council (Chair: Patrick Rodgers)
- Family Life & Faith Formation Commission (Chair: Nicole Masoudi, 2023–2026)
- School Commission (President: Ben Nicol, 2024–2027)
- Technology Commission
- Finance Commission
Visit, Contact & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can reach IHM at 5692 Central Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46220, by phone at (317) 257-2266, or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 am–4:00 pm (summer hours 9:00 am–3:00 pm). The parish website is ihmindy.org, and Mass is livestreamed on the official IHM Facebook page (facebook.com/ihmindyparish). Online giving by bank account or credit card is available through the parish website, with checks mailed to the parish office. The parish also maintains a St. Vincent de Paul collection drop box in the parking lot near the playground for soft-goods donations.
- Address: 5692 Central Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46220
- Phone: (317) 257-2266
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ihmindy.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/ihmindyparish
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8 am–4 pm (summer 9 am–3 pm)
- Online giving via ihmindy.org
- SVdP drop box in parking lot near playground
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edwin Sahm1946–
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass on December 8, 1946, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; led the founding of the parish school in 1948.
- Fr. David Lawler
Former pastor; returned for the 75th anniversary Mass in December 2021.
- Fr. Jeff Godecker
Former pastor; returned for the 75th anniversary Mass in December 2021.
- Fr. Bobthrough 2023
Celebrated 50th ordination anniversary on December 18, 2021; served as pastor until Fr. Pat Beideleman arrived in summer 2023.
- Fr. Patrick (Pat) Beideleman, VF2023–present
Current pastor; previously served in several Archdiocesan parishes and led the Secretariat for Worship and Evangelization at the Catholic Center.