Immaculate Heart of Mary

About Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) is a Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis located at 13505 Excelsior Boulevard in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The parish was founded in 1946 and serves Minnetonka and surrounding southwest-metro communities including Eden Prairie, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina. IHM is recognized for its commitment to quality liturgy, faith formation for all ages, and outreach.

Our History

Founded in June 1946, IHM grew from a single Mass in the Glen Lake Public School gymnasium into a thriving parish with its own school and a 950-seat worship space. The parish's first church was a Quonset hut built in 1946 near Woodhill Road and Excelsior Boulevard, on the site of today's baseball fields. In 1951 the current site was purchased, and the parish school opened in fall 1952 with about 100 students; four sisters from the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Michigan staffed the school for the next 50 years.

• June 1946 — First Mass celebrated in Glen Lake Public School gymnasium by Monsignor Thomas R. Jude; about 90 people attended.
• 1946 — Quonset hut church seating 250 built near Woodhill Road and Excelsior Boulevard; first Mass in the new building December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
• 1951 — Father Francis J. Fleming assigned; current Excelsior Boulevard and Mayview Road site purchased ('Jack's Place' tavern renamed IHM Social Center).
• 1952 — Six-classroom school opens; nearly 100 pupils in six grades; four Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters arrive from Monroe, Michigan.
• 1953 — Convent built; six-classroom East Wing addition.
• 1960 — First permanent church built; first Mass celebrated on Easter Sunday.
• 1970s — Father Thomas P. Hunstinger implements Vatican II reforms.
• 1985 — Fireside Room and business administration offices added.
• 1994 — Father Patrick Hipwell becomes pastor.
• 1995 — IHM School consolidates with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist (Hopkins) into John Ireland School.
• 2000 — Present worship space completed in December.
• 2001 (Feb 25) — Auxiliary Bishop Frederick Campbell dedicates the new church (950 seats).
• 2003 — John Ireland School system dissolved.
• 2004 — IHM re-establishes a pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school.
• December 2007 — Father Hipwell transferred after 13 years.
• June 2008 — Father David Ostrowski assigned as pastor by Archbishop Harry Flynn; rectory fully renovated.
• September 2013 — IHM School merges with St. John the Evangelist (Hopkins) to form Notre Dame Academy on the IHM campus.
• June 2017 — Father Ostrowski transferred.
• July 1, 2017 — Father John Bauer named Parochial Administrator.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

IHM offers formation programs for learners from age three through adulthood, including sacramental preparation, parish religious education for elementary and junior-high students, and adult small-group studies.

• Faith Formation: Elementary Grades 1–6 — Wednesday evenings, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
• Faith Formation: Junior High Grades 7–9 — Wednesday evenings, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
• Confirmation preparation using Decision Point — open to youth in grades 10–12
• Children's Liturgy of the Word (fall)
• Adult Education on varied topics (offered throughout the year)

Sacramental Preparation

Sacramental programs at IHM support families and individuals preparing for Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage. Adult candidates for initiation enter through the RCIA process, and youth in grades 10–12 prepare for Confirmation through the Decision Point curriculum, with the ceremony taking place at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

• Infant Baptism (ages 0–2): contact parish office; Baptism and RCIC for children 3+
• First Reconciliation (fall) and First Eucharist (early winter through early spring): parent session plus parent/child activity session
• Confirmation: Decision Point program for grades 10–12, meeting a total of 17 times, with sponsor support, retreat, saint research, and service components; reception typically at the Cathedral of St. Paul in April
• Marriage: contact the parish office
• RCIA for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church
• Communal Reconciliation services during Advent and Lent

Small Groups & Adult Enrichment

Adults at IHM can grow in faith through ongoing small groups, seasonal studies, and service opportunities. Bible study meets in 8-week topical or book-based sessions in the fall and spring.

• RCIA: guided year-long journey for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church
• Bible Study: 8 weeks in fall and spring (materials provided in advance; small groups meet weekly at IHM)
• Lenten Adult Faith Formation: 6-week guided book study with small-group discussion
• Adult Faith Formation on varied topics (see bulletin or contact the Adult Faith Formation Coordinator)
• Adult Service Group: serve the local community with other young adults

Notre Dame Academy (Catholic School)

IHM has had an on-site parish school since 1952. After periods of consolidation with neighboring Catholic schools (John Ireland, 1995–2003; current Notre Dame Academy, formed September 2013), the regional pre-K through 8th-grade school now operates on the IHM campus in partnership with St. John the Evangelist in Hopkins.

• Founded 1952 with nearly 100 students in six grades
• Staffed for 50 years by four sisters from the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Michigan
• 2004 — IHM re-establishes a pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school on campus
• 2013 — IHM School merges with St. John the Evangelist (Hopkins) to form Notre Dame Academy, located on the IHM campus

Stewardship & Volunteer Opportunities

Parishioners are invited to share their time, talent, and treasure through the Stewardship Committee, Parish Pastoral Council, and a wide range of liturgical, formation, and outreach ministries. The Business Administrator coordinates time-and-talent campaigns and finances.

• Parish Pastoral Council
• Stewardship Committee — supports the pastor and runs annual Time and Talent pledge campaigns
• Finance Council / Business Administration office
• Liturgical ministries, faith formation catechists, and outreach opportunities listed on the Volunteer Opportunities page

Giving & Parish Identity

IHM is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 41-0718324) supported through Sunday collections and stewardship pledges. The parish serves the southwest-metro area and continues its founding commitment to quality liturgy, faith formation, and outreach.

• Parish office phone: 952-935-1432
• Website: http://ihm-cc.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/ihmccmtka
• Mailing address: 13505 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345