About Immaculate Heart of Mary · New Melle, Missouri
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Catholic parish in the small town of New Melle, Missouri, in the western suburbs of St. Louis. Founded in 1945 as a mission parish of St. Joseph in Cottleville with about twenty families, it was raised to full parish status in 1956 and today worships in a 750-seat church dedicated in 2003, with the original mission church preserved as St. Joseph Chapel. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is currently pastored by Rev. David Skillman, assisted by three permanent deacons and a full parish staff. Its mission is summarized in the parish motto: Informed, Hospitable, Missionary (IHM).
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Rev. David Skillman
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a welcoming, debt-free rural parish with a thriving calendar of devotions, faith formation, and service. The parish motto — Informed, Hospitable, Missionary — is lived out through daily Mass, near-continuous Eucharistic Adoration in St. Joseph Chapel, a robust Parish School of Religion, OCIA, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Scouting, quilters, youth group, and a full suite of men's and women's retreat opportunities. Visitors can expect warm hospitality in a 750-seat church that still feels like a small-town family.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 7:30 AM
- Tuesday 7:30 AM
- Wednesday 7:30 AM and 5:30–6:20 PM
- Thursday 7:30 AM
- Friday 7:30 AM
- Saturday 7:30 AM and after the 8:00 AM Mass
Adoration times
- St. Joseph Chapel is open for Eucharistic Adoration 24 hours a day, Monday after 8:00 AM Mass through Friday Benediction at 11:00 AM
- Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM in St. Joseph Chapel (public hours listed)
About Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is a community of Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Louis that strives to embrace the Gospel of Joy. The parish endeavors to do so by being informed in faith, hospitable to all, and motivated to serve God and neighbor — the three words summarized by its IHM logo. Located in the small town of New Melle in St. Charles County, the parish has grown from a 1945 mission of about twenty families into a vibrant, debt-free congregation that worships in a 750-seat church and tends to its original 1945 chapel as a house of perpetual adoration.
Parish History
Founded in 1945 as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Cottleville and named 'Immaculate Heart of Mary' by Archbishop John J. Glennon, the parish was raised to full status in 1956 and built a rectory that same year. A grotto to Our Lady of Fatima was built by parishioners in 1947. Explosive growth in St. Charles County in the 1980s expanded the parish to roughly 290 families by 1992, prompting a 1997 capital campaign that produced the present 750-seat church, dedicated in 2003. A second campaign under Father Tom Miller paid off the building debt by 2016.
- 1945 — Ground broken June 24; cornerstone laid August 26 by Msgr. (later Bishop) Leo Steck; church dedicated December 9.
- 1947 — Our Lady of Fatima grotto built by the men of the parish, dedicated October 26.
- 1956 — Mission raised to full parish; rectory built; Father Arthur Bromschwig named first administrator.
- 1982 — Father Wenceslaus Klaric becomes IHM's first full-time pastor.
- 1992 — Father Joseph A. Weber appointed; institutes St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Scouting, etc.
- 2001 — Ground broken for new, larger church (December 16).
- 2003 — New church dedicated May 4; seats up to 750.
- 2009 — Original hall renamed Founders Hall; original church renamed St. Joseph Chapel.
- 2012 — Father Tom Miller becomes pastor.
- 2016 — Parish loan paid off, making IHM debt-free after 20 years.
Parish Staff & Deacons
The parish is currently served by Father David Skillman, three permanent deacons, and a robust lay staff. Daily operations are coordinated through the parish office by two secretaries, while ministries such as religious education, liturgy and communications, facilities, finances, and safe environment are each overseen by dedicated staff members.
- Pastor — Rev. David Skillman ([email protected])
- Permanent Deacons — Deacon Chris Ast, Deacon Chuck Hinkle, Deacon Carl Sommer
- Deacon Michael Forget — Business Manager
- Shawn Mueller — Director of Religious Education
- Bryan Beams — Director of Liturgy and Communications
- Mike McDonald — Facilities Manager
- Susan Holtsclaw & Jenifer Fallert — Secretaries ([email protected])
- Karen Galloway — Bookkeeper
- Pat Gentry — Facilities
- Karen Wappelhorst — Safe Environment Coordinator
Mass, Devotions & Sacraments
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers a rich schedule of Masses and devotions, with daily Mass Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM, an evening Mass on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, and Sunday liturgies at 7:30 and 10:00 AM (the 10:00 AM Mass is livestreamed). A near-continuous schedule of devotions surrounds the daily Mass, and Reconciliation is offered six mornings a week plus a Wednesday evening session.
- Weekend Masses — Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 7:30 & 10:00 AM (livestream).
- Weekday Masses — Mon–Sat 8:00 AM; Wed also 6:30 PM.
- Holy Day Masses — 8:00 AM and 6:30 PM (no vigil).
- Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1) — 10:00 AM and 6:30 PM.
- Thanksgiving Day Mass — 9:00 AM.
- Reconciliation — Mon–Sat 7:30 AM; Wed 5:30–6:20 PM; Saturday after the 8:00 AM Mass.
- Eucharistic Adoration — 24 hours Monday after Mass through Friday Benediction in St. Joseph Chapel.
Devotions & Prayer Life
The parish motto 'Informed, Hospitable, Missionary' is reflected in a calendar of weekly devotions that surrounds the daily Mass. The Rosary is prayed before weekday and Saturday Vigil Masses, and a different devotion follows each weekday's Mass along with special 'First Friday' and 'First Saturday' observances.
- Rosary — before weekday 8:00 AM Mass and before the Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass.
- Tuesday after Mass — Mother of Perpetual Help devotions.
- Wednesday after Mass — Litany of St. Joseph.
- Thursday after Mass — Respect Life / Sanctity of Life prayers.
- First Friday — Devotion to the Sacred Heart (Litany of the Sacred Heart).
- First Saturday — 8:00 AM Mass, Rosary, 15 minutes of meditation (Litany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary).
- Five First Saturdays devotion.
- Magnificat Women Prayer Breakfast.
- Evening of Recollection for Men and for Women.
Sacraments at IHM
Information on sacramental preparation is provided on the parish's Schedule of Services page. Couples must contact the parish office at least six months before a wedding, and parents are asked to register for the Baptism class before scheduling the celebration. OCIA inquiries go through the Director of Religious Education.
- Baptism — contact the parish office to register for class and arrange the Baptism.
- Marriage — contact the parish office at least six months prior to the wedding.
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule above.
- Confirmation — prepared through PSR grade 8.
- First Communion — prepared through PSR grade 2.
- OCIA — contact Shawn Mueller in the parish office.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides what the parish calls a 'vitamin supplement' to the 'family meal' of faith that parents strive to give at home. Classes are offered on Sunday mornings from 8:45–9:45 AM (between the 7:30 and 10:00 AM Masses) for grades 1–8, with sacramental fees for grades 2 and 8. The program also runs Liturgy of the Word for Children during the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass and offers parallel adult formation in the Grand Hall.
- PSR classes for grades 1–8, Sundays 8:45–9:45 AM on the parish campus.
- Confirmation Preparation for 8th graders.
- Liturgy of the Word for Children (grades K–4) during the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass.
- Adult Education / Scripture Study on Wednesdays.
- OCIA for adults — coordinated by Shawn Mueller.
- Tuition: 1 child $100 early bird ($125 after 9/1); 2+ children $200 early bird ($250 after 9/15); sacramental fee $25 for grades 2 and 8; home-school only $40/student.
Growing Your Faith
A 'Growing Your Faith' page on the parish website lists ongoing opportunities for adult spiritual growth, from retreats to prayer breakfasts and Scripture study.
- Evening of Recollection for Men
- Evening of Recollection for Women
- Five First Saturdays
- IHM Parish Library
- Magnificat Women Prayer Breakfast
- Study the Sunday Readings
- White House Retreat Center
Parish Ministries & Outreach
IHM supports a wide array of parish ministries and service organizations, many of which were formalized under Father Joseph A. Weber in the 1990s. From Knights of Columbus and Legion of Mary to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, Scouts, quilters, and a youth group, there are entry points for nearly every age and interest.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — food pantry and meetings.
- Knights of Columbus — Founders Hall meetings.
- Legion of Mary — Weber Hall and St. Gianna gatherings.
- Scouting Programs — Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, trailer meetings.
- Men's Club / Marian Council.
- Athletic Programs.
- Youth Group — Weber Hall Wednesday evenings.
- Young Adult Ministry.
- Quilters Ministry.
- Exercise Class — Grand Hall foyer.
- Nar-Anon support group.
- Wedding Coordinators (Pat Gentry, Kelly Meyer).
- Dinner Committee and parish social events.
- Rummage Sale fundraising.
Music & Liturgy
Liturgy and music at IHM are coordinated by the Director of Liturgy and Communications (Bryan Beams) and the Music Director (Marilyn O'Neill). The parish choir rehearses weekly in the church, and Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the Sunday morning Mass.
- Director of Liturgy and Communications — Bryan Beams.
- Music Director — Marilyn O'Neill.
- Choir practice in church.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word for grades K–4 during Sunday Mass.
Buildings, Grounds & Jubilee Year
The parish's campus includes the 2003 church (capacity 750), St. Joseph Chapel (the 1945 original mission church, now used for 24-hour Adoration Mon–Fri), Founders Hall (the original parish hall, renamed in 2009), Weber Hall, St. Gianna room, and the Grand Hall. The parish was designated by Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski as one of nine Jubilee Pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of St. Louis for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, allowing the faithful to obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting.
- Current church — dedicated May 4, 2003; seats up to 750.
- St. Joseph Chapel — original 1945 mission church; site of 24-hour Adoration.
- Founders Hall — original hall, renamed in 2009 to honor founding parishioners.
- Weber Hall and Grand Hall — used for PSR, youth group, Legion of Mary, dinners, and exercise classes.
- Our Lady of Fatima grotto — built 1947 by the men of the parish.
- Jubilee Year 2025 — designated pilgrimage site for a plenary indulgence.
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 636-398-5270 (fax 636-398-5577) or by email at [email protected]. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM; it is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Address — 8 West Highway D, P.O. Box 100, New Melle, MO 63365.
- Phone — 636-398-5270.
- Fax — 636-398-5577.
- Email — [email protected].
- Office Hours — Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–3:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM; Sat/Sun closed.
- Sunday 10:00 AM Mass is livestreamed via the parish website.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Pezold1945–1956
Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Cottleville, who founded the IHM mission parish.
- Rev. Arthur Bromschwig1956–
First administrator of IHM as a full parish; also served at Duchesne High School and supervised construction of St. Dominic High School.
- Rev. Wenceslaus Klaric1982–1992
First full-time pastor, arriving from St. Gregory Parish in St. Ann; shepherded explosive parish growth to ~290 families.
- Rev. Joseph A. Weber1992–2001
Launched the Worship Commission, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, Scouting, and a 1997 capital campaign for a new church; reassigned to St. Andrew, Lemay.
- Rev. Stoltz2001–2012
Renamed the original hall 'Founders Hall' and the original church 'St. Joseph Chapel' in 2009; later transferred to St. Alban Roe, Wildwood.
- Rev. Tom Miller2012–
Native of Elsberry, MO; led the capital campaign that paid off the parish loan by 2016.
- Rev. David Skillman
Current pastor.