Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

09/07/2026

Fr. John and staff wish all a blessed Labor Day!

09/06/2026

09/04/2026

Priest Vestments

Question:
Why do priests wear vestments? Do they have a special meaning?

Answer:
Vestments are clothes worn for a specific purpose. Priests will joke that they cover a thousand flaws. But our own manner of dress often corresponds to what we do. We dress up for special occasions, and for special guests. We wear certain clothes for golf, for outdoor activities, and years ago, we even had our "Sunday best" clothes we wore just for Church. Vestments are much the same, and each one has a meaning.

Priests wear vestments for two basic reasons. First, they draw attention to the importance and solemnity of the act of worship. The color of the vestments indicates the season of the year or the feast being celebrated. Secondly, vestments draw attention to what the priest does, rather than who he is. In the celebration of the Mass, the focus is on what we do together, on our common unity, and on the mystery and person of Christ.

©LPi

09/03/2026

St. Gregory the Great
September 3

Saint Gregory the Great lived in a most turbulent time. There were devastating episodes of plague, the sacking of Rome and the breakdown of strong Roman rule, invasions by Lombards and Franks, floods, and a widening gap between imperial Byzantium and the Roman Church.

Born around 540 into a noble Roman family, Saint Gregory was probably trained in law, and started his public service as a Prefect of Rome. However, upon the death of his father, he converted his family home to monastery, where he resided as a monk. He built six more monasteries in Sicily and one in Rome.

Often called the father of the medieval papacy and Apostle of the English, Saint Gregory was named Pope by acclamation in 590. Although he was reluctant to assume this post, preferring the cloistered life, his accomplishments were many. He was an extremely capable manager of Church estates and tenants and is known for his reform of the liturgy. He was instrumental in the consolidation of papal power and led the fight against the many heresies promoted by small Christian groups at the time. Through his prolific correspondence he oversaw monastic life, curtailing the power of grasping bishops, correcting abuses, and enforcing discipline. He was particularly concerned with the conversion of England, sending 40 monks from his monastery to evangelize there.

Saint Gregory died in 604 and was sainted immediately. He is one of four key doctors of the Western Church. Among the miracles attributed to him is a Eucharistic miracle in which the woman who prepared the bread for communion laughed at the consecration, denying the transformation of the bread to the real presence of Jesus. Saint Gregory prayed for the Lord to show the congregation the truth and confirm their belief. The piece of bread transformed into a piece of flesh and then returned to bread, reforming the woman, and strengthening the faith of all. St. Gergory the Great, pray for us!

© LPi

09/02/2026

Ministry Fair
September 12-13

After all Masses, September 12-13, stay and see what ministries we have to offer here at IHM! Explore opportunities, too!

Hospitality will be offered after all Masses so stay, enjoy something to eat or drink, and check out all the ministries!

09/01/2026

Happy First Day of School!

Welcome back to the students and faculty of Notre Dame Academy! Notre Dame Academy is a welcoming, regional Catholic school housed on the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Campus offering preschool through eighth grade. Students receive an education that is taught with kindness, inclusiveness, and a commitment to the whole child. Want to learn more? Contact the school at https://nda-mn.org/ or at 952-358-3500

09/01/2026

Thank you for your support of the August ResourceWest backpack drive!

1,050 students supported. 💙💚

That’s 1,050 students heading into the new school year with backpacks, school supplies and a community behind them.

This year’s Back to School Program also gave families an opportunity to connect with more than supplies. At our one-day event, 311 families joined us, and eight resource partners were there to share information and connect families with additional community resources.

And our community showed up in a big way: 96 volunteers gave their time and 20 community collection drives helped gather the supplies students needed.

To everyone who donated, hosted a collection drive, volunteered, partnered with us or supported this program in another way, thank you. You helped make a strong start to the school year possible for children and families across our community.