About Immaculate Heart of Mary · North Little Rock, Arkansas
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church is a historic parish in the Marche community of North Little Rock, Arkansas, situated in Pulaski County within the Diocese of Little Rock's Central Deanery. Founded by Polish settlers in 1878, the parish grew up around what became known as 'Jasna Gora' or 'Blue Hill,' named after the beloved Marian shrine in Poland, a devotion that still shapes parish identity today. IHM is both a worshipping community and a parish school serving PreK3 through 8th grade, with daily and weekend Masses, Wednesday adoration, a Hispanic ministry (the pastor also celebrates Mass in Spanish), and a robust slate of lay organizations.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary); the parish hilltop is named Jasna Gora (Blue Hill) after the Polish Marian shrine
- Rector
- Msgr. Jack D. Harris
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Central Deanery)
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary combines more than 145 years of Catholic tradition — including its Polish Marian heritage on 'Jasna Gora' / Blue Hill — with an active parish school and a full slate of ministries. The parish offers weekday and weekend Masses, Saturday and Tuesday confessions, all-day Wednesday adoration, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults, Youth Faith Formation, and a Hispanic Mass ministry celebrated by the pastor. Welcoming organizations include the Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Men's Club, Parish Council, School Board, and a Bible study, making it easy to plug in as a new parishioner or visitor.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM
- Tuesday 5:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (per DOLR listing); masstime.us lists Wednesday 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
About Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in the Marche community of North Little Rock (Pulaski County), in the Diocese of Little Rock's Central Deanery. The parish's mission is to open hearts to Jesus Christ through communal worship, to live the Gospel without compromise, and to love the Church as the Body of Christ while respecting her traditions. The community aspires to grow in love and truth within itself, its families, and the wider neighborhood, so as to spread the Good News of the Gospel.
- Diocese of Little Rock — Central Deanery
- Address: 7006 Jasna Gora Dr., North Little Rock, AR 72118
- Office: (501) 851-2763
- Office hours: Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m.
Mission and History — A Polish-Marian Heritage on Blue Hill
Polish settlers arrived in the Marche area in 1878 and built a church on a rise they called 'Jasna Gora,' or Blue Hill, after the beloved Polish Marian shrine at Jasna Góra in Częstochowa. The Holy Ghost Fathers soon built a small two-story log schoolhouse — classrooms below, priest's quarters above — and by 1884 it had 83 pupils. In 1924 the new Blue Hill School was built and staffed by Benedictine sisters; in 1927 the Pulaski County district took it over as a public school. The school returned to parish control in 1953 under Msgr. Thomas J. Prendergast, who dedicated a larger facility in 1960. Continued growth brought three classrooms and a library in 1991, the Upper Building (offices, grades 4–8, cafeteria, Parish Life Center) in 1998, and two new Pre-K classrooms in 2015.
- Founded 1878 by Polish settlers
- Hill named 'Jasna Gora' / Blue Hill for the Polish shrine
- Holy Ghost Fathers built the original log schoolhouse; 83 students by 1884
- Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Convent (Fort Smith) staffed the 1924 Blue Hill School
- 1953: school returned to parish control under Msgr. Thomas J. Prendergast
- 1960: new larger school dedicated
- 1991: three classrooms + library; 1998: Upper Building; 2015: two Pre-K classrooms
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Msgr. Jack D. Harris (ordained June 8, 1974; birthday July 16), who also celebrates Mass in Spanish. He is assisted by Deacon Timothy (Tim) Costello. The parish office staff includes Brenda Fontaine (Secretary), Ginny Stevener (Accountant), and Allan Banaszak (Facilities Operations Manager). Faith formation and youth ministry are led by Ethan Harris, who serves as Director of Religious Education (DRE), Faith Formation Director, and Youth Director. Sandy Costello joins Deacon Tim as co-coordinator of OCIA. Susej Thompson directs the parish music ministry.
- Msgr. Jack D. Harris — Pastor ([email protected])
- Dc. Timothy Costello — Deacon ([email protected])
- Ethan Harris — DRE / Faith Formation Director / Youth Director
- Brenda Fontaine — Church Secretary
- Ginny Stevener — Accountant
- Allan Banaszak — Facilities Operations Manager
- Susej Thompson — Director of Music
- Sandy Costello — OCIA Co-coordinator
Sacraments
IHM prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion, and Confirmation — and for Christian Marriage. Baptisms require parents and godparents to attend a class first. Marriage preparation requires the couple to be registered, active, contributing parishioners living within parish boundaries for at least six months, with notification to the pastor before any wedding date is set.
- Baptism — class required; call (501) 851-2763 to schedule
- Reconciliation & First Communion — parish-based preparation
- Confirmation — parish program for older students
- Marriage — 6-month residency rule; minimum 6 months' preparation
Parish Organizations and Lay Ministries
A wide range of parish organizations gives members ways to share faith and serve. Regular monthly meetings include the Parish Council, Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Men's Club, and School Board. Adult faith formation includes a Bible Study (4th Thursday at 6:00 PM) and a Prayer Email Chain.
- Altar Society — 2nd Tuesday at 6:00 PM
- Knights of Columbus — 2nd Wednesday at 6:00 PM
- Men's Club (IHM Men of Faith)
- Parish Council — 2nd Monday at 6:30 PM
- School Board
- Bible Study — 4th Thursday at 6:00 PM
- Prayer Email Chain
- Natural Family Planning
- Returning to the Church ministry
Faith Formation, Youth, and OCIA
Faith formation at IHM spans children, youth, and adults. Youth Faith Formation (YFF) meets Sundays 9:10–10:20 AM. Christian Youth Ministry (CYM) gathers teens for ongoing community and service. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process — for adults exploring or preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church — is coordinated by Deacon Tim Costello and Sandy Costello, and the parish also offers RCIC for children. Vacation Bible School (VBS) is offered seasonally.
- Youth Faith Formation (YFF) — Sundays 9:10–10:20 AM
- Christian Youth Ministry (CYM)
- OCIA — Deacon Tim Costello & Sandy Costello
- RCIC for children
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Confirmation preparation
Immaculate Heart of Mary School (PreK3 – 8th)
Immaculate Heart of Mary School is a parish Catholic school serving PreK3 through 8th grade on the same Marche campus, at 7025 Jasna Gora Dr., North Little Rock, AR 72118 (phone (501) 851-2760). The school's mission is to glorify and serve Jesus by providing a Catholic education rooted in faith, respect, and tradition, combining rigorous academics with innovation and family values. Its vision is 'to bring inspiration and innovation to every student in the classroom,' forming students spiritually, intellectually, personally, socially, and physically, with teachers and parents partnering in faith and education. IHM School has been part of the parish since the original 1878s log schoolhouse built by the Holy Ghost Fathers — with 83 pupils by 1884 — and has been Catholic continuously since 1953.
- PreK3 – 8th grade Catholic school on the Jasna Gora Drive campus
- Principal: Brenda Hiegel ([email protected])
- PreK Director: Brenda Hiegel
- Administrative Assistant: Tania Arredondo ([email protected])
- Development Director: Alisa Tubbs ([email protected])
- Address: 7025 Jasna Gora Dr., North Little Rock, AR 72118
- Phone: (501) 851-2760
New Parishioners and Visitor Information
Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed at IHM. Registration is encouraged as soon as possible and can be done by calling the parish office at (501) 851-2763 or online via the parish website. Sunday Masses are at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM, and Saturday Vigil is at 5:00 PM.
- New Parishioner Registration — online via ihmnlr.org or by phone
- Mass times posted at the parish and on DOLR.org
- Office hours: Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–noon, 1–4 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Thomas J. Prendergast
Led the parish when Blue Hill School returned to parish control in 1953; under his leadership a larger school facility was built and dedicated in 1960.
- Father Charles Hertel
Earlier pastor of the parish; remembered in local legend for stationing a lookout at the end of Blue Hill Road to alert the Benedictine nuns when school-district officials were coming during the years Blue Hill School was public.