Sisters, Servants of the

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Mission Advancement: Where Mission Matters

Throughout the years, the IHMs have published numerous collections of poetry that express God, faith, creation, community, and the sacred moments woven into everyday life. Their verses invite readers to pause, reflect, and discover God's presence in both the extraordinary and the ordinary. Each month, we select a Sister's published poem to honor the past month and look ahead to the next.

This month, we celebrate the poetic voice of Sister Suzanne Mayer. Her beautiful piece on the florals of fall invites us to take joy in the natural world and revel in the marvel of the seasons as we start the transition into winter.

Violets in the Fall

I walked a way into the wood

to find a patch of violets,

small purple promise pushing

up in a patch

Warmed by the fragile rays

of autumn sun,

Still strong enough to coax

spring-sung faces

into light and life.

To reach the spot

I trod through leaves

deep in decay and death

Each step a pace

backward to remembering.

It was worth the walk

to see three small bright faces

heralding beginning

in this woodland

Speaking so loudly

of the end.

— S. Suzanne Mayer

Published in Magnificat: Spring 1994

A Lifetime of Meaningful Connection:

John and Maureen Rizzo

For Maureen and John Rizzo, support for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) is rooted in family, faith, and a lifetime of meaningful connections to the congregation.

Maureen's earliest connection to the IHMs came through her aunt, Sister Regina Bernadette. Known simply as "Aunt Dorothy" to her family, Sister Regina Bernadette provided Maureen with her first introduction to the IHM community and its values of service, education, and faith.

John and Maureen Rizzo

Karen Creely, Director of Communications

Karen Creely has spent much of her career telling stories—and figuring out who needs to hear them. For 30 years, she has worked in communications, public relations, and media, with a career that has taken her from WBEB/B101 Radio and Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre to public relations agency work, higher education and, ultimately, the IHM Sisters.

Karen joined the IHM Sisters as Director of Communications in March 2017 and will mark ten years in the role this spring. Her work touches nearly every corner of the congregation—from publications, media relations, and internal communications to maintaining the congregation's websites and finding ways to share the IHM story with a variety of audiences. 

Camilla Hall Oktoberfest and Craft Fair

We are grateful for the flocks of people who accepted our invitation to “Celebrate Fall at Camilla Hall!,” the Convent Home and Healthcare Center of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  

Our October 10^th event gathered families, friends, and surrounding community members for a fun-filled day perusing 35+ creative crafters, Sisters' booths and chances, and four White Elephant remnant areas including religious items, sports merchandise, a jewelry boutique, and Christmas treasures. All enjoyed delicious food ranging from pulled pork, burgers, and chili to funnel cakes, gingersnaps and ice cream. Children participated in bounce houses, games, face-painting, and pumpkin decorating. In between the IHM Sister DJ’s tunes, a quartet from the Mainliners Chorus serenaded the lunch crowds. Attendees gathered at the end of the day to see who won the money-chance prizes, unique theme baskets, sports baskets, and ticket raffles. Beautiful weather added to the festive day!  The most treasured takeaways from the day included the heart-warming encounters that occurred around every corner of the event! Thank you for your support, donations, and presence. We hope to see you next year!

- Sister Rose Mulligan, IHM, Co-Chair of Oktoberfest

IHM Christmas Concert:

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Celebrate the joy and wonder of the Christmas season with us on Saturday, December 13, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Chapel, located inside Villa Maria House of Studies. Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful Christmas music featuring Bob Grove, the Villa Maria Vocalise Choir, and the Malvern Preparatory School Men's Chorus. Following the concert, guests of all ages are invited to enjoy hot cocoa, Christmas cookies, and a special visit from Santa. Mark your calendars and join us for this festive community celebration. Mandatory registration runs from November 1-30. This event is free with donations gratefully accepted!

The Annual Appeal is Here!

We are thrilled to announce that our Annual Appeal has officially begun! Be on the lookout in your mailbox for a letter and remittance envelope. For those of you who prefer email communications, you should have received an email containing an online payment link. (Please be sure to check your junk and spam folders if you don't see it.)

Every year, we are amazed by the generosity of those who give to the Annual Appeal to support our Sisters in Camilla Hall and all our ministries. In fact, the Annual Appeal makes up 51.8% of our total funding.

If you would like to contribute, Click Here to make an online donation, or send a check made payable to Sisters, Servants of the IHM and mail it to:

Mission Advancement

230 IHM Drive

Malvern, PA 19355

Come to Mary's Grotto. She is Waiting for You.

A stunning white statute of Our Lady stands majestically amid the hand-laid stone grotto structure … a refreshing mist spritzes from the bubbling fountain … towering oaks and maples are about to burst into a canopy of vibrant colors … and in the moonlight, a lit stone path invites you to meander throughout this peaceful setting under the stars. May you feel the presence of Our Lady. Come to Mary’s Grotto. She is waiting for you.



Thank you to all donors who have supported this special project. The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary lift you up in their daily prayers and hope you will visit Mary’s Grotto often to enjoy this sacred space that you helped to build. Click the button below to read the list of current donors. The IHM website will display new names daily as more donations are made.

A Light in the Darkness

Nestled within the alcove of the brand-new grotto, the Blessed Sacrament shone light into the darkness of the October evening as members of the Immaculata University community spent time in adoration with the Lord. Since a statue of Our Lady overlooked the site, and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary had just been celebrated the day before, the group’s guided meditation centered on the Blessed Mother and encouraged attendees to entrust their burdens to Mary, who would take them to her Son. Student-led worship music mingled with the sounds of nature, evoking a peaceful ambience. The night sky above inspired a sense of wonder at the God who shaped the stars, yet who also gazed into each individual’s heart from the Eucharist. Experiencing adoration at the Grotto offered attendees a taste of the Nativity scene, with the radiance and warmth of the Lord cutting through the chill of the night. Given the volume of positive feedback from the event, it’s clear that this definitely won’t be the last time Immaculata University hosts an Outdoor Holy Hour at the new Grotto!

Written by Amanda, a Peer Minister for Service in Campus Ministry who will be graduating in Fall 2026.

Did You Know?

A New Monthly Column

By Sister Anne B. McGuire, IHM

Team Member, Office of Mission Effectiveness

Dear Friends,

Even good friends sometimes take one another for granted. We may assume, “You are my friend, so you already know this about me.” We do not want to make that assumption. To help you learn more about our IHM Congregation, we are pleased to share the first installment of “Did You Know?” We hope you enjoy this simple introduction to highlights from our history, our founders, our growth, and the many ways we minister to and with those we serve. This month’s focus is on our beginnings.

New Accessible Van Ready

for Camilla Hall Sisters

A brand-new accessible van arrived on October 22 and is ready to transport our Camilla Hall sisters to their medical appointments. Specially equipped to accommodate sisters with a variety of mobility needs, the new van will help ensure our sisters can travel safely and comfortably.

This new purchase was made possible because of the generosity of those who supported the Nun Run in June 2026. We are so grateful to all who attended or sponsored the event. Click Here to see a listing of all the individuals and companies that sponsored the 2026 Nun Run.



“Thank you very much for all you do for the IHMs and who you are. The generosity of the community at large that is shown to our Camilla sisters over and over again, is heartwarming and always appreciated,” says Sisters Ann Raymond and Eileen Buchanan, Superiors at Camilla Hall.

Sisters Eileen Buchanan and Ann Raymond Welte with Camilla Hall Administrator Julie Kozak and Maureen Cislo, Director of Mission Advancement with the beautiful new van

Helpful features include a ramp on the rear of the vehicle for a wheelchair to smoothly glide up into the van

Choosing virtue over sin requires sacrifices, and sometimes a miracle

Some of us, including myself, enjoy using social media … but do you ever feel like it’s using you?

Sometimes, I get on my phone to look something up and suddenly find myself scrolling and have completely forgotten why I got on in the first place. Other times, I’ll sit watching tv with a sister and resolve not to look at my phone and suddenly find myself scrolling and I don’t even remember when I picked up my phone.

At times, it feels like the internet is a portal into the seven deadly sins: pride, avarice (greed), lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and especially sloth.

Yet, there is a holy antidote for these sins, and they are the opposing seven capital virtues: humility, generosity, chastity, patience, temperance, kindness, and diligence!

How do we choose these virtues instead of getting sucked into the sins?

By making one sacrifice at a time, one good choice at a time.

Read the full article here

The IHM Center for Literacy is now on Instagram and Facebook! Follow them to learn about their mission and community of learners and teachers.

Email to RSVP by Nov. 6

Office of IHM Mission Advancement

230 IHM Drive

Malvern, PA 19355

missionadv@ihmimm.org