Immaculate Conception Church

This is a nice-​looking pre-​war building along Targee Street that you’ll probably pass by if you’re coming from the I-​278 and on your way to visit this part of Staten Island. It has what you may consider as a classic design of a parish church you can still see and appreciate being found in older neighborhoods all over NYC. The church holds masses everyday, especially on Sundays (and even has a 7pm mass in Spanish, which is something rare in this part of the city, from what I know). Its interiors are a bit shabby but it has big, tall columns (painted in what looked like off-​white), stained-​glass windows, and a classic-​looking main altar made of marble and with the statue of the Immaculate Conception right in the very front. The organ is played on certain masses, and on certain occasions you’ll hear it complete with a choir. I’ve never seen it fully packed with people although I’m aware that I’m seeing regulars showing up during Sunday masses. I happen to see the same set of faces each time I’m here. In case you want to visit on a Sunday, make sure you pull one of the big (wooden) doors in front of the building to get inside. It seems to me that it has the appearance that it’s always shut; and you’d be soon surprised there are worshippers inside. Or you can choose to use one of the side entrances. The church is also attached to a parish school, where I know students from the neighborhood get their schooling.