IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH

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Immaculate Heart of Mary Church was built on a plot of land donated in 1952 by Mr. Sam Allen. The land was donated at the request of Monsignor Paul Conway, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Pineville, and was constructed by parishioners under the direction of architect Mr. Harold DeKeyser. Father Patrick Donohoe was the first priest to serve as pastor of the church, which was originally a Mission Church of Sacred Heart Parish. On March 12, 1971, Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission Church was partitioned from Sacred Heart Parish and established as a new parish with its own pastor. It was named in accordance with the wishes of its principal benefactors, Miss Ester Murray and her sister Miss Daisy Murray of New York City. Father Wilbur Cloutier was appointed first Pastor of the new parish and resided at Maryhill Seminary until the rectory in Allen Hall was built. On March 25. 1972, the liturgical day of Mary's Annunciation, ground was broken for construction of Allen Hall. The hall was designed to provide a rectory, offices, and classrooms. Bishop Charles P. Greco, D.D., dedicated the hall on February 25, 1973. From May 1975 through Spring 1977, the church underwent extensive renovations. A new rectory was built in 1986. The theme of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is God as Living Water. This is represented by the sandstone altar, lectern, tile floor and stained glass windows. The colors evoke images of earth and water. The window on the west side of the church, in blues and greens, depicts the Sacred Heart of Jesus from which flows streams of running water. Each of the seven streams emanating from the heart represents the seven sacraments. The east window captures the sunny shades of gold and red, announcing rejuvenation with each rising sun. The depiction represents the Immaculate Heart of Mary, her purity symbolized by the lilies resting near her heart. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church has long served a mostly rural, scattered population. Throughout its history, dedicated and talented parishioners have given many hours of their time to renovate and maintain the church and surrounding grounds. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is truly a community of people seeking a more complete union with God.