Educational Ministries in North America
For more than a century and a half, the IHMs have blazed a pioneer trail in the education of youth and adults from pre-school grades to post-doctoral education. They have created an outstanding legacy of service to parishes and diocesan systems, as well in IHM-sponsored institutions. Elementary SchoolsBecause of the special dedication of the Congregation to the preparation of young persons for the reception of the Sacraments, elementary education has always claimed a privileged place in IHM ministry. The Congregation is dedicated to the education of youth and adults and provides special services for the preparation of teachers. One of these services is a publication series called, Apostolic Briefings and Communications --ABC Notes.
Click on the links to see listings of the Elementary Education Facilities and Catholic Secondary Schools staffed by IHMs in North America. Immaculata University
Immaculata's origins date from 1906 when the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary purchased the present site in Frazer, Chester County. Ground was broken for Villa Maria Hall (the central campus building) in 1908, and two years later, the massive stonewalls were complete. The growth of Immaculata University over the past eight decades has been gradual, yet consistent. The initial 198 campus acres have grown to approximately 373, while the two original dormitory-classroom structures are now part of a twelve-principal-building complex, representing a multi-million dollar investment. Immaculata University continues to profess its tradition as a Catholic liberal arts institution of higher education with the primary mission of teaching. Founded originally as Villa Maria College, the institution was granted a college charter in 1920, making it the first Catholic college for women in the Philadelphia area. In 1929, the name was formally changed to Immaculata College to accommodate government regulations for the naming of the post office. On June 10, 2002, Immaculata University received approval from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to “operate as a university” and to assume the name Immaculata University. The faculty consists of approximately 100 full-time priests, sisters, and laypersons; these educators uphold and enliven a tradition of educational excellence sustained within an environment of concern for and interest in each individual. The genuine personal concern shown each student in an atmosphere of respect, vitality, and warmth is one of the distinct characteristics of Immaculata. The university has been recognized as an outstanding institution representing the highest quality in offering individualized preparation for careers and service. To read more about Immaculata, please click here. Other IHM Educational MinistriesIn keeping with the Alphonsian preference for "the poor," the Sisters have dedicated their personnel and their resources to founding and staffing educational centers for those "in need" of special consideration. Saint Lucy Day School
Archbishop Ryan School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing ChildrenFounded in 1912, the Archbishop Ryan School is a special facility for children with hearing disabilities. In this atmosphere of faith centered on language, the children learn in an environment that fosters the development of a relationship with God as well as the maximizing of the personal gifts of each one. Archbishop Ryan School is a part of the Special Education Division of the Office of Catholic Education within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is staffed by three congregations of religious women. IHMs have been involved in the program since 1998. IHM Literacy Centers The
IHM Center for Literacy and GED Programs, with its two urban sites in
North and Southwest Philadelphia, was founded by the Sisters, Servants
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to meet the ever-burgeoning multi-ethnic,
mainly non-English-speaking communities of the city. The first site
at Incarnation parish was opened in 1989; the second, at St. Francis
de Sales began in 1991.
Web Site: http://mysite.verizon.net/ihmesl/
IHM Educational CentersAt WootonThe Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary offer individualized educational programs at the IHM Educational Center. Respecting the dignity and uniqueness of each person as a child of God, the Sisters strive to provide learning support that will empower those students with learning differences to reach their highest potential.Support is offered in writing, mathematics, spelling, organizational and study skills. The Center also offers informal assessment and consultation without charge. Building their self-esteem will enable them to encounter challenges with confidence in their abilities while recognizing and accepting their differences as gifts. The Fast Forward Program is an intense computer program designed to increase a child's reading attention and skills. The eight-week program is offered five days a week (90 minutes a day). Contact Sister James Anne Feerick at the IHM Educational Center, 401 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, (610) 527-1466. In Philadelphia
Sessions are usually held one hour a week, after school and/or in the early evenings Monday through Thursday.. Educational Center Staff:
For information contact: IHM Family Literacy CenterThe IHM Family Literacy Program, an educational ministry of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is committed to developing strong healthy family units and to breaking the cycle of illiteracy that exists within many families, particularly migrant families, by enhancing the quality of communication among family members and promoting harmony within family structures by empowering parents and children to read and to grow together.
IHM Formative Parenting
Whole-person education is vital in the life of a child for soulful reasons and for the good of society. Because child-rearing also impacts the mission of the Catholic School, the Church now calls Catholic Schools to be agencies of formative education for parents as well as students. Therefore, teachers require formative support for their own professional development and to be prepared to offer practical resources to parents. Formative education supports whole-person development, that is, education that fosters spiritual, social, psychological, emotional, and moral maturity. Dr. Patricia M. McCormack, IHM Other Educational Outreach Programs The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary are involved in many state- and federally-funded outreach programs. Some examples are the READS program, Chapter I, CORA, Rainbows, and other literacy programs in the Philadelphia area.
Educational
Ministries | Evangelization
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The
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have been involved
in the education of young persons and adults since the foundation
of the Congregation in 1845. From a humble beginning in a log cabin,
and reaching unimagined proportions over the years, God continues
to shape the size and scope of the IHM mission according to the
resources of the Congregation. 
Saint
Lucy Day School was founded in 1955 at the request of parents who
wanted their children to receive the special education services
they needed in a spiritually enriching environment. Administered
by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this school
revolutionized the idea of providing education for children who
are blind or partially sighted without isolating them from family
and the regular school system. St. Lucy Day School is one of the
five Special Education schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,
and serves Visually Impaired students from a five county area. In
April 1997, Saint Lucy Day School was chosen as one of the 25 most
innovative Catholic schools in the nation. 
The
Literacy Center offers instruction in English as a second language
and high school equivalency (GED) programs. Learners of all faiths
and nationalities, at all stages of English acquisition, are welcome
at the center. Sisters and lay volunteers serve a diverse community
of adult immigrant learners from dozens of countries in small classes
that fit the learners' abilities, from beginning to advanced levels.
