In the early 20th century, the Franciscan Fathers of Paterson began ministering to the Catholic community in Wayne. They acquired an old farmhouse, converting it into a chapel, named Holy Cross. As the community grew, the chapel was replaced with a proper church.

On January 1, 1944, Holy Cross transitioned to diocesan clergy, with Rev. Edward Scully appointed as its first pastor by Bishop Thomas McLaughlin, the inaugural Bishop of Paterson.

In 1950, Holy Cross Parish opened Wayne's first Catholic school, under the care of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who lived in Packanack Lake. As the Catholic community continued to expand, in 1954, Bishop James McNulty tasked Msgr. Scully with broadening the church's presence in Wayne. Land was purchased in Packanack Lake to establish the mission of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), where Sunday Masses were initially held in the Packanack Lake School Auditorium. The first Mass was celebrated there in September 1956.

After three years of meticulous planning, the ground was blessed for a new complex at Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Bishop McNulty blessed the completed buildings on November 29, 1959. By September 1959, the parish school was fully operational, and IHM was formally established as a parish in 1960.

Due to Msgr. Scully’s declining health, Rev. Robert Morris was appointed co-pastor in October 1974. Upon Msgr. Scully's passing in 1975, Fr. Morris became the second pastor of IHM. During his tenure, the temporary church building was transformed into a permanent one, which Bishop Rodimer consecrated in February 1980.

Fr. Morris was succeeded by Fr. Paul Knauer in 1987. Under Fr. Knauer's leadership, the parish established a Parish Advisory Council and hired a full-time music minister. The community expanded, drawing members from surrounding areas to Packanack Lake.

In 1995, Msgr. Louis Birh was appointed as the fourth pastor. He spearheaded the Vision 2000 Project, a dynamic initiative that added a gymnasium, media center, and Pre-K classrooms to the parish complex. By the turn of the millennium, IHM was ministering to over 1,300 families, experiencing significant growth in both size and ministries. Under the direction of Pastoral Associate Warren Helms, the parish developed three liturgical choirs: the Adult Choir, Children’s Choir, and Teen Choir. Warren, who passed away in September 2020, is fondly remembered. Youth Ministry also flourished, engaging with the Wayne Special Olympics, senior outreach programs, and a mission program in Kentucky.

In June 2003, Bishop Rodimer appointed Rev. Daniel Kelly as the parish’s fifth pastor. Under Fr. Dan’s guidance, the parish continued to thrive, supported by the vibrant faith and commitment of the IHM community. In 2018, due to illness, Fr. Dan retired, and retired Navy Chaplain Rev. Michael J. Parisi was appointed as the sixth pastor.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Father Parisi initiated livestreamed Masses, marking a technological milestone for IHM. Public liturgies were also celebrated outdoors in what became known as "Mass on the Grass." When Fr. Parisi was transferred to St. Catherine of Siena Parish in June 2020, Rev. Mateusz Jasniewicz, a native of Poland, was appointed as the seventh and current pastor of IHM. Fr. Matt quickly set to work enhancing the church’s technology infrastructure and overseeing several building refurbishment projects. He also established a new multimedia ministry, ensuring that the parish’s livestreamed services and other digital resources continued to serve the wider community, especially those unable to attend Mass in person amidst the ongoing health crisis.