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IHM Sponsored Institutions - Then and Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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In 1846, the IHMs started their first school, St. Mary Academy. In 1899, the Academy had a student, Abigail Drawe, who graduated with honors in post graduate courses such as Greek, Latin, French, vocal and instrumental music. As the years passed other students were receiving college credits and soon St. Mary Academy became St. Mary College and Academy. In 1910, St. Mary College was empowered to grant degrees. In 1925 the name of the college was changed to Marygrove, and two years later Marygrove College was moved to Detroit. In the meantime, IHM-sponsored elementary and high schools were being established, primarily in Monroe and the Detroit metropolitan area. Additionally, IHMs taught at schools around the country.
Reunion information is posted for these schools. You may also wish to visit the schools' individual Web sites.
Some other fun features are the School of the Month and Featured Class Year.
If you want to find out about reunions, or would just like to share a memory, go ahead! We would love to hear from you.
Marian High School (1959 - Present)
Address: 7225 Lahser Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
Phone: 248-644-1750 Web site: www.marian-hs.org
It was early in 1957 that the need for a Catholic high school in the Birmingham area became obvious to the parents of children at Holy Name Parish. Under the leadership of Monsignor Eugene Paddock, the pastor of Holy Name, a committee began to investigate the feasibility of building separate high schools for boys and girls. Approval was granted for the parish to proceed. The Chancery Office advanced the purchase money from the Archdiocesan Development Fund, to be later reimbursed through a local fundraising effort.
Five parishes in the area, Holy Name, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, St. Bede, St Columban and St Hugo, organized to build the two schools. The General Superior of the IHM Sisters, Anna Marie Grix, accepted the girls' school for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Marian High School opened the doors to 132 young freshman women in September of 1959. The first principal, Sister Thomas Aquinas Walmsley, IHM, was called back to Monroe to be the assistant to the general superior after one year. She was followed as principal (1960-1966) by Sister Mary Aquinas (Anne Chester), IHM. The school grew, one class at a time, and continues to flourish and grow and change in many ways. Marian has a strong relationship with the IHM Congregation and continues to hold ideals such as Christian service and the teaching of the gospel value as key components of its mission and daily endeavors.
Marygrove College (1927 - Present) Address: 8425 W. McNichols, Detroit, MI 48221 Phone: 313-927-1433 Web site: www.marygrove.edu Marygrove College, an independent, Catholic, liberal arts college, sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is committed to fostering Christian values, to educating students from diverse backgrounds, and to serving the people of Metropolitan Detroit and beyond. The fundamental purpose of Marygrove is to educate each student toward intellectual and professional competence; toward career flexibility through grounding in the liberal arts; and toward active compassion and commitment. To this end, Marygrove provides a personalized learning environment, through excellent teaching in its undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs.
Marygrove College Preschool Marie Hopkins, IHM, the preschool's director for many years, has written a history of the Marygrove College Preschool, which is available for $20 by mail. Download a flyer/order form (137 KB).
Address: 4100 Martin Street
Detroit, MI 48210 With grades six through eight, this school sought to challenge girls who had the promise to become leaders in their communities. This school was a collaborative project of four communities of religious women with a long tradition of educating young women: Religious Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of Detroit, Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Religious of the Sacred Heart, and by the collaboration of other women religious and lay women.
A Clear Mission
Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School's mission was to prepare girls for life in a learning environment that supports them in their personal, social, moral, and intellectual development, and positioned them to be successful in high school and beyond.
Co-sponsored by the IHM Sisters and the Basilian Fathers - (Fall 2008 - Present) Through its work-study program, the school fosters skills and attitudes important in the workplace, such as responsibility, determination, respect for self and others. In the finest tradition of Catholic outreach, Cristo Rey welcomes families of all denominations. With a challenging and supportive college preparatory program, this school equips students with the core knowledge and competencies needed for college and the workplace. Its ultimate goal is to enable students to gain the skills to be successful in life and the commitment to make a difference in their families, their neighborhoods and the world. Visit the Cristo Rey Web site for more information.
Hall of the Divine Child, Monroe, Mich. (1918 - 1980)
Immaculata High School, Detroit, Mich. (1941 - 1983)
 Immaculata was opened with a nearly full complement of students. With Sister Anna Marie Grix as first Superior and Principal and many excellent faculty members, Immaculata was off to a great start. The students and staff were very proud of the fact that almost every student who graduated went on to higher education. They also were amazed that they found college or university was quite easy after the rigorous demands at IHS! With too few students the school could not survive and was closed in 1983.
Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, Westchester, Ill. (1960 - 2005)
Immaculate Heart of Mary High School
10900 W. Cermak Rd Westchester, IL 60154 708-562-3115  Immaculate Heart of Mary High School opened just one year later than Marian High School. It was a very vibrant, innovative school for many years. After 45 years of educating young women in the Chicago area, IHM High School closed at the end of the 2004-05 academic year. The Board of Trustees recommended the school's closing after extensive efforts to boost enrollment and to collaborate with neighboring St. Joseph High School in a co-institutional project proved unsuccessful. IHM High School deeply touched the lives of thousands of students and their parents, as well as faculty and staff over the 45 years of committed educational service. While the closing was a source of great sorrow, its rich legacy continues to be cause for gratitude and pride.
St. Mary Academy (1846 - 1988)
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The Hall of the Divine Child was opened in 1918 as an elementary school for boys, both resident and day students. The date was later than originally anticipated because World War I made it very difficult to obtain the materials needed for the construction of the building. The school eventually became a military school with the boys marching through the halls to classes, meals and other events. The school closed in 1980. 
It was renovated to become what it is now an apartment building residence for seniors and others.
