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two women putting brush into a wheelbarrow
Sister of IHM presenting information to group

About the Sisters of IHM

Who we are

The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) is a community of more than 230 Catholic women religious whose roots date back to 1845.

Our history is a long and joyful course of hope and vitality, proclaimed through lives of prayer, a communal lifestyle and works of education, healthcare, social service and pastoral and spiritual ministries. In the power of Jesus and with devotion to Mary, we live chastity, poverty and obedience as prophetic signs of hope in our world. Relying always on God’s providence, we work lovingly among all people.

We live today with joy. We embrace the future with faith.

It is the inner energy that inspires us as a Congregation to embrace the future with faith, joyfulness, courage and willingness to live in and through the challenges of our times. We invite you to join us in this mission.

Our history

The great fire that is the mission of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be prophetic witnesses to the presence of God in the world.

What We Believe

We believe that all life is sacred and that God loves us unconditionally.

The Arts & Music

Throughout our history, we, Sisters of IHM, have recognized the importance of the arts in the lives of all people as well as the power of the arts to heal and transcend.

Two smiling sisters embracing
Three ladies sitting on a bench eating icecream
Smiling women in colorful matching outfits
Many Sisters sitting in chairs in a circle around candles in the chapel
a Sister planting
two smiling Sisters

Our Core Values

A smiling sister speaking at a podium
Sister Katie Clauss greeting IHM Associates.

Mission Statement

Our mission as Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton, Pennsylvania, is to follow Jesus as a community of disciples, aware that we are sent to be a clear and understandable prophetic witness to the presence of God in the world. Inspired by the missionary zeal of our founders, Reverend Louis Florent Gillet, CSsR, and Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin, IHM, we strive to be faithful to our charism: to rejoice and to share in Jesus’ redemptive mission to proclaim the Good News of God’s universal love and to recreate the face of the earth.

We are an apostolic religious institute characterized by joyful, loving, hospitable, and self-emptying service to the people of God. All our ministries are works for justice and peace, they receive and give life in relation to the depth of our spiritual union with Jesus and our participation in his mission.

In the power of Jesus and with devotion to Mary, we live chastity, poverty and obedience as prophetic signs of hope in our world. We acknowledge our need to manifest concern, service and advocacy for the economically poor.

Relying always on God’s providence, we will continue to serve God’s people in a variety of ministries, living and working lovingly among all persons.