Disciple Dispatch

May 2, 2025

It's May!

ONLY A DAY AWAY!

IHM second graders anticipation is palpable as their preparation for First Holy Communion is all but complete. Christ in the Eucharist will be theirs tomorrow at the 5:00pm Mass here at Immaculate Heart of Mary. He is alive. God with us!

First Things

And this is how it went...

$16,850!!

Thank you volunteers and shoppers, contributors of stuff, putter-outters and cleaner-uppers! It was a record breaking year for the IHM

Second Best Sale , beating the 2008 record by $30 bucks! $16,850!!! And the icing on the cake? $1158.75 was from the Bake Sale! What a blessing.

And the blessings were multiplied as four local charities were the recipients of what was left at the end of the sale.

The camaraderie amongst volunteers, the joy on people’s faces when they find their treasures, and the charities that benefit... this is always the best part of being involved. We highly recommend you join us! There are a few positions available on our committee with perhaps YOUR name on one!

See you next year the third week in April!

Anne Brown (616-450-5038) and Mary Kay Fatum (616-901-0366)

CELEBRATE THE MONTH OF OUR LADY!

May is the month of Mary and IHM tradition has us adorn her statues with flowers from the school children on the day of May Crowning. They don't have to be store bought. Flowers from your garden are perfect. Send them in with your child(ren) this Wednesday morning, May 7.

We will create bouquets and place them in vases throughout the campus.

MAY CROWNING MASS

Join us next Wednesday at 9:00 am for another beautiful May and Mary tradition here at IHM School. Eighth graders will fill the lay roles of the May Crowning Mass, ushering in the beginning of all their "lasts" here in the place they've called home for the last 8-10 years.

Our Lady of Fatima Celebration

Our 2nd and 8th grade Partners in Prayer will lead us in an all school rosary on Tuesday May 13. Students in 2nd and 8th grades are encouraged to wear their red prayer partner shirts to school that day.

Join us this

MONDAY MAY 5

for the

Wait Until 8th

Speaker Event!

Hosted by the Mission Effectiveness committees from Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in partnership with the Catholic Foundation of West Michigan.

Doors open at 6:00 PM. The speaker will begin at 6:30 PM.
If you cannot attend in person, the event will be live-streamed. Join the live stream here.
Location: 360 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 – Cathedral Square
Please RSVP here.
Childcare is available but requires an RSVP.

Good News around Campus

Twenty-eight IHM School second graders will be making their first Holy Communion this weekend! May their reverence and awe inspire us to likewise approach the King of Kings at every Mass.

IHM 4th graders will have the opportunity to try out band instruments at Catholic Central next Friday, choosing which they'd prefer for band class next year. Band class begins in 5th grade in our Catholic Schools and concerts are held in tandem with other area schools. Instruments maybe rented with the option to buy later. Let the joyful noise begin!

6th Graders leave for an two-day, one overnight trip to Camp Henry along the lakeshore, next Thursday and Friday. Another rite of (very fun) passage for students here at IHM!

Kids are growing and thanks be to God we have a gently-used Used Uniform Closet to trade in the short skirts, shorts, skorts, and slacks for longer ones...for free. Mrs. Ann Foster has been the latest reigning Queen of the Uniform Closet, sharing her over-the-top organizing skills so sizes and styles are easy to find. Follow the signs to the school basement past the art room.

IHM parents Dan and Alexa Hoerner will be bringing child #3 to the waters of Baptism this Sunday. Baby Brooks becomes a child of God at the 10:30 am. Mass. And--IHM Preschool Aide and Grammie Mrs. Maria Weber will be celebrating the baptism of her second grandchild as the same Mass!

45 Pilgrims from IHM parish will be off to Greece next week for 10 days to walk in the footsteps of St Paul. May the Holy Spirit direct their path both spiritually and physically and lead them to a safe return.

STAFF OPENINGS:

IHM school is looking for a Media (library) teacher next year and Music teacher. Both are part time positions with Brighton Area Schools Shared Time program. Both have the potential to be full time if other schools in the area are in need as well. Please go to this link: https://www.applitrack.com/sharedservices/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Teachers+Elementary+K-8 and click on the correct subject area. To apply, be sure to click "apply" for the KENT county positions. Any questions or leads, please contact Holly Lake at principal@ihmschoolgr.org.

The Week Ahead

Saturday, May 3

Confessions 3:30 pm

Mass 5:00 pm 2nd Graders First Holy Communion

Sunday May 4

Mass 8:30 am and 10:30 am

Year End Youth Ministry Party Craigs Cruisers

Tuesday, May 6

Teacher Appreciation Lunch

No 6:30 pm Evening Mass

Wednesday, May 7

Bring Flowers for Mary

All School May Crowning Mass 9:00 am

Seedling Choir Practice 3:30 pm Church

St Gregory Choir Practice 4:00 pm Church

Thursday May 8

6th Gr to Camp Henry Overnight

Friday May 9

No 9:00 am Daily Mass

6th Gr Camp Henry Returns afternoon

4th Gr Band Instrument Fitting CC

All School Skate Party 4:00-6:00pm

7th/8th Dance Gym 7:00-9:00pm

Saturday May 10

Confessions 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Mass 5:00 pm

Sunday May 11

Mothers Day

Mass 8:30 and 10:30 am

View our Calendar for more events

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Buckle up...this month is going to fly by!

May 3 First Holy Communion 2nd Gr.

May 4 Youth Ministry Craigs Cruisers

May 5 Wait until 8th Speaker

May 6 Teacher Appreciation Lunch

May 8-9 Camp Henry 6th Gr.

May 9 Band Instrument Fitting 4th Gr.

May 9 All School Skate Party

May 9 7th/8th Dance

May 11 Mothers Day

May 12 Book Study Anxious Generation

May 13 Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

May 14 Awards Ceremony

May 16 Wax Museum 4th Gr.

May 18 High School Graduation Mass

May 21 Home and School Mtg

May 21 Michigan Adventure trip 7th Gr.

May 26 No School Memorial Day

May 27 Exams 1/2 day 8th ONLY

May 28 Exams 1/2 day 8th ONLY

May 29 Exams 1/2 day 8th ONLY

May 29 Last Day for 8th ONLY + BBQ

June 2 Field Day

June 2 Cedar Point Trip 8th Gr.

June 2 Exams 1/2 day 6/7 ONLY

June 3 Exams 1/2 day 6th/7th ONLY

June 3 Playdate PK and K

June 3 Graduation Mass 8th Gr.

June 3 Graduation Reception/Dance

June 4 Exams 1/2 day 6th/7th Only

June 4 Last All School Mass

June 5 Last Day of School 1/2 Day

June 5 Parent Rosary Last Day of School

June 5 Ice Cream and yearbooks

June 6 HAPPY SUMMER!

From The Principal

Hello IHM Families!

Well, we've hit the ground running with May!

What a blessing to have our concert this week and enjoy all those beautiful voices! Thank you to Jake Beckon and Liz Owen for all their hard work with the kids! It was truly a wonderful experience!

I am so grateful for my time in the morning car line each day! I was noticing this week how far the students have all come when it comes to greeting adults in the morning, and the waves from all of you combined with that help me to start my day on such a positive note! I remember when I was first out there years ago and I didn't get many student responses to my "Good Morning!" Now I hear from most of them! It just makes me pause in gratitude for this community. What a great lesson for the kids to learn in a society where most people are looking down, usually at phones, instead of greeting people.

Please take advantage of the educational opportunities for parents when it comes to technology. There is a speaker Monday at Cathedral Square and then we are doing a book study on the Anxious Generation. It will be so helpful as we navigate these things together.

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Holly Lake