It was constructed in 1891 on the grounds of
Mount Loretto, an institution founded by Father
John Drumgoole to house and educate destitute
street children of the city. The church principally served the children and staff of that institution. Mount Loretto was conceived as a farm, and at the time of its construction, the church stood in a rural area. In 1972, the church was one of the locations used in the movie
The Godfather. In 1973, a serious fire largely destroyed the church, leaving only its facade. The owner of the church, the
Archdiocese of New York, rebuilt it in 1976, incorporating the old facade into the new smaller structure. The church is not considered a parish of the archdiocese. The church building does not operate full-time and is mainly used for occasional ceremonial Masses. Mount Loretto, officially known as the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin and now named Catholic Charities of Staten Island, continues to use the surrounding property for a variety of social services, including some residential programs. A small plaza in front of the church features bells saved from the steeples during the 1973 fire, and an 1891 statue of Father Drumgoole by sculptor
Robert Cushing. ==References==