About Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

The Most Reverend John Gregory Murray, Archbishop of St. Paul, established the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on July 12, 1946. Father Thomas, R. Jude served as its first Pastor, with the first mass celebrated with a group of about 90 people in a gymnasium. Shortly thereafter land was purchased and, due to the shortage of building materials following World War II, a temporary structure - and old Army barracks - was erected to seat 250 people. By June 1951 it was decided a larger church and new school would be necessary to meet the needs of a growing parish.

Ground was broken in May 1952 for the school that opened in September with 97 students in six grades; the school basement was used for church services. In 1959, construction began for a new church and an addition to the school. The first Mass was offered in the church on Easter Sunday, 1960.

In March 2000, the church was razed with the exception of the marble wall behind the altar. This wall now stands in the back of the church in the gathering space and has the painting of the Immaculate Heart of Mary icon. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church on Christmas Eve 2000.

From 1969 to 2004 academics were shared with St. John's and St. Joseph's of Hopkins in a variety of combinations. In the fall of 2004 Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School (IHMCS) was founded after a significant renovation to add more classrooms, a media center and cafeteria. IHMCS now enrolls students from Preschool through 8th grade.