IHM Sisters featured on Diocesan Podcast
Sister Julian Marie and Sister Mary Elizabeth had the opportunity to share their vocation stories on the diocesan podcast "About 4'Clock". Below you can hear their stories as well as access other vocational stories.
Sister Julian Marie, IHM
https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/about4/guest-sr-julian-marie-ihm/
Sister. Mary Elizabeth, IHM
https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/about4/guest-sr-mary-elizabeth-ihm/
IHM Novena 2026
Theme: Mary in America
Novena Talks
June 4 - Mary, Mother of the Church
June 5 - Mary, Refuge of Sinners
June 6 - "My Immaculate Heart will Triumph"
June 7 - Our Lady of the Eucharist
June 8 - Marian Shrines of the United States
June 9 - Our Lady of Champion
June 10 - Our Lady of Guadalupe - Patroness of the Americas
June 11 - The Immaculate Conception - Patroness of the United States
June 12 - Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Novena Prayer
O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, ever Virgin!
O Heart most pure, most noble, most perfect image of the adorable Heart of Jesus!
We humbly entreat you to intercede for us and to obtain for us the favors we petition for in this novena, if it be the holy will of God to grant them, and if not, to ask for us whatever graces we most need.
(Pause for private intentions said in silence.)
We desire by this novena, which we offer in your honor, that you will always be, after the Heart of Jesus, the object of our love and devotion. Through your Immaculate Heart we offer to your divine Son all our thoughts, words and actions of this day and all our days.
We pray for Leo, our pope, for our bishops, for all priests and for the conversion of all sinners.
We beg your powerful intercession for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Through your maternal Heart, we ask God's blessings upon our families, upon all who have been good to us for the Lord's sake, for all the living and the dead who are dear to us and for all for whom we have been asked to pray.
V. Hail Mary…
R. Holy Mary…
V. Immaculate Heart of Mary,
R. Pray for us.
V. Refuge of Sinners,
R. Pray for us.
V. O Mary conceived without sin,
R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.
V. May Mary's Heart Immaculate,
R. Be forever praised.
On the last day of the novena, pray...
The Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, according to the heart of God, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, organ of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, sanctuary of the Divine Trinity, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, tabernacle of God Incarnate, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, immaculate in your conception, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, full of grace, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, blessed among all hearts, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, throne of glory, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, most humble, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, holocaust of Divine Love, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, fastened to the Cross with Jesus Crucified, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, hope of the agonizing, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, meek and humble of Heart,
Make our hearts according to the Heart of Jesus.
Let us pray:
O most merciful God, who for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the wretched, has made the Immaculate Heart of Mary most like in tenderness and pity to the Heart of Jesus, grant that we, who now commemorate her most sweet and loving heart, may by her merits and intercession, ever live in the fellowship of the hearts of both Mother and Son, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sister Mary Catherine's Book on Cardinal Newman
It is with great joy the IHM Sisters announce the publication of Sister Mary Catherine Blanding's book on St. John Henry Newman. This book has been the work of much prayer and study of the life of Cardinal Newman. It has been Sister's desire to bring to the public the great genius of this newly declared Doctor of the Church. He is truly a Saint for our time and one that everyone can relate to and imitate.
In addition to her book, Sister has been writing reflections each month over a different sermon of St. John Henry Newman. To see those reflections, go to Heart Speaks to Heart
To order a copy of Sister's book, please visit: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/catholicheart/
Please check back at this page to see where the book is appearing as well as interviews with Sister Mary Catherine. These links will take you to another website.
Vocation Blog: A blog about vocations to the consecrated life.
Episode 287: Sister Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM, on her book St. John Henry Newman (June 15, 2026)
Catholic Advance - What can the 38th Church Doctor Teach About Artificial Intelligence
For additional articles by Sr. Mary Catherine, see the following:
Imitating Mary, Part I: Being with Our Mother
Spiritual Direction: “The Art of Arts”
Fasting as a Path to Discernment
The Newest Church Doctor: A Man of Deep Sensitivity
IHM Sister featured on Vocation Podcast
Sr. Mary Jane Frances had the privilege of sharing their vocation stories on the diocesan podcast "About 4'Clock". Below you can hear their stories as well as access other vocational stories.
Sr. Mary Jane Frances
https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/about4/guest-sr-mary-jane-frances-ihm-about-4-o-clock-podcast/
Sister Maria Jacinta Celebrates Silver Jubilee
Sr. Maria Jacinta Weide publicly celebrated 25 years as a bride of Christ during the holy sacrifice of the Mass on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at St. Joseph, Andale.
Sr. Maria Jacinta, the daughter of Steve and Lupe Weide, grew up in Arkansas City, where she and her family attended Sacred Heart Parish. The jubilee was celebrated in conjunction with the first profession of vows by Sr. Benedicta Marie Timmermeyer, IHM.
After Holy Communion but with Christ still Eucharistically present within her, Sr. Maria Jacinta knelt in the sanctuary and renewed her vows. Sr. Maria Jacinta recounted that more than 25 years ago, when she entered the convent, she knew the Lord was promising to fulfill all her desires and that, now, the vows she renewed reflected his promise abundantly fulfilled. After her renewal, Sr. Maria Jacinta received a jubilee crucifix and a papal blessing as reminders of Christ’s irrevocable fidelity to her and of her faithful response to him and to his Church.
Several of those present found it very meaningful to celebrate the first profession and the jubilee together, to witness Sr. Benedicta Marie’s joyful and fervent beginning to her consecrated religious life and to witness Sr. Maria Jactina’s enduring and ever-deepening fiat, each made possible and even vibrant by God’s grace. Their lives reflect an excerpt from the Essential Elements in Church Teaching on Religious Life in which we read that “in (Mary’s) fiat and magnificat religious life finds the totality of its surrender to and the thrill of its joy in the consecratory action of God.”
May this fiat surrender and this magnificat joy be ever present within these sisters as they seek to persevere in the life and charism of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and in the deepening imitation of Mary’s heart as one which wholly receives God’s gift and offers him her whole self in return.
Sister Benedicta Marie Makes Her First Profession
Fiat. Magnificat: A gift received and a gift given. These words characterize the first profession of Sr. Benedicta Marie Timmermeyer, IHM, which took place on Saturday, March 21, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Andale.
Sr. Benedicta Marie is the daughter of Robert and Kathleen Timmermeyer. She grew up in Wichita, where she and her family attended St. Francis Parish. During the entrance hymn, Sr. Benedicta Marie processed toward the sanctuary, carrying the scapular and black veil that would signify her new identity as a bride of Christ.
In his homily, Fr. John Hay boldly stated that since God is the origin and sustainer of all life, commitments such as that of Sr. Benedicta Marie, to return one’s whole life to Christ, is actually the most fitting response. The world sees the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience as a series of “no’s,” of privations, but in reality, they are free and joyful “yeses,” all of which point to God being our ultimate end and goal.
Sr. Benedicta Marie then professed her vows in the hands of Mother Cecilia Marie Hammersley. In doing so, she offered herself as a gift to Jesus Christ who first gave himself to her and set her apart through baptism. Now, through her religious consecration, this gift was radically deepened. She was clothed with the scapular, complete with the badge of the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, and her white veil that had symbolized newness was exchanged for a black veil symbolizing consecration.
The previous night, in a private ceremony with her community, Sister had received the IHM habit, crucifix, cincture, and rosary of the seven dolors. The Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, through which Christ offered his gift of self in a particularly intimate way through the paschal sacrifice.
After the Mass, Sr. Benedicta Marie indicated that she particularly cherished the moment of receiving her Savior and now Spouse in the most Holy Eucharist in the silent and total exchange of self-gift, further solemnized through her religious profession. Having taken the “longer route” of discernment, Sr. Benedicta Marie is joyfully and gratefully embarking on the adventure as a vowed religious, following Jesus wherever he leads and accompanying him as his bride with an undivided heart. Sr. Benedicta Marie summarized all of her desires by saying, “I hope to live and die a bride of Christ and a faithful daughter of the Church."
May 13, 2026 - Our Lady of Fatima Procession
You are invited!
Saturday, April 4, 2026 - Sorrowful Mother Vigil
Sr. Mary Catherine Blanding, IHM featured on Spiritual Direction.com
In the midst of this Lenten season, there are so many ways one can offer sacrifices and grow closer to our Lord. Sr. Mary Catherine, drawing from several sources, especially Cardinal Newman, gives insight into a powerful way to experience our Lenten journey. See her article:
Mother Cecilia Marie featured on IRL Podcast
Recently, Mother Cecilia Marie was interviewed on the Institute on Religious Life podcast, Ever Ancient Ever New. She spoke about how she came to the IHM Sisters, the history of the Sisters, details about the habit and the Sisters' schedule.
https://instituteonreligiouslife.podbean.com/e/63-affiliate-in-focus-with-mother-cecilia-marie-ihm/