Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception

This is a beautiful Catholic Church at the heart of San Diego’s Old Town section. Attractive in its Spanish architecture and elegant simplicity it anchors Old Town.
I had the opportunity to attend a service, and the elegance and warmth of the church are also mirrored in the mass attendees. A mixture of enthusiastic, friendly locals and wide-​eyed curious tourists made for an interesting congregation.
It was particularly exciting to hear a sermon from the pastor who was a displaced Pittsburgher. He spoke of God’s plan working on God’s time. Later in the day I took that to mean we had to be patient in our wait for another Steeler’s Suprbowl team.
Whether you just witness the graceful stature and unique architecture of this land mark or revel in the congregation during a service, this is a must see in Old Town.

Ive been to this church many times since I was a little girl. Its the center of attention in Old Town. You can hear the old bells ringing on the hour every hour. It sets the mood. Many locals and tourists attend church here or just come by to peak in or take photos inside and out.
Unfortunately, I was attending my family friend’s viewing then funeral. It was a private event and the security had to tell the public who wanted to come in and see the church. The hall is next door where they hosted refreshments and the family got together. Its a beautiful church for a wedding or funeral services. Its picturesque and accompanied by wonderful Catholic priests. Hey, why not start your Sunday here and end up at a restaurant on the strip for brunch or a walk around Old Town. You won’t regret it.

Located in the heart of Old Town where its surroundings are frequented more by tourists than locals, one can almost forget this beautiful and humble Catholic Church is rich with history. Those that know its history, you can see them with a camera on hand taking photos of it. If you frequent the church enough, you can spot a regular or two in the mass of out of town visitors.
Fair to say, I’m pretty much a local San Diegan by now. I happen to be one of the frequent local visitors to Old Town itself. One Sunday a couple of years back, I decided to attend Sunday Mass here. Father Ecker was doing the sermon and ever since I have been looking forward to his sermons on Sunday mornings. What a breath of fresh air. Accustomed to the traditional speakings of Catholic Priests, Father Ecker is very candid in his talks and humorous as well. His talks are relevant to that Sunday’s message of course but his engaging personality is what brings me back. I can elaborate further on his background, but you have to attend yourself to fully get what I’m talking about. There is also a 2^nd floor reserved for the Church choir and they are the ones who are singing and playing instruments during the mass.
Now, down to FYIs. The Church itself has no parking of its own other than a tiny little lot which I’m sure is for staff. You can find public parking behind the Church and other public parking around the area. This being Old Town, I can’t even stress enough… Go Early. Go Early. Go Early. Like a particular morning sermon? Go at least 30 mins early. If you happen to go «on time». Forget it. The ones who can not find seats, will be left standing. You might as well go eat breakfast or brunch and come back. I should know. It has happened to me quite a few times. The joy of having this Church in Old Town. There is always something to do. I personally wish I didn’t work soo much because this is the Church I attend the most. On any given Sunday I’m off, you bet I’m here. I highly recommend this Church whether you are a regular or just passing through.

From the weekly Bulletin by Pastor Fr. Perozich:
«We would like to take this opportunity to provide some remedial catechesis. To begin, homosexual activity is still an „act of grave depravity“ (i.e., mortal sin) according to the Catechism and perennial Church moral doctrine.»
Seems a tad conservative to me but who am I to judge? This church is all about the Catholic Conservatives winning the battle over the Catholic Liberals’ propaganda. There are many Catholic conservatives that might be right at home here but it gets a 1 anyway for being too political.
…And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from EGO…

This church is really nice. I came here with my dad, just to see. The sanctuary is very pretty and it was nice to visit, if only for a very short time.

Very intimate. Old Church but we’ll maintained. Love the priest from the Bronx. Good service, excellent sermon.

This church is very friendly and welcoming to newcomers that are not a part of the Parrish. The sermons are lively, warm, and are even infused with a little bit of humor. Which is new and refreshing to me, because I am used to old school catholic churches. You step into the church and it has a lovely atmosphere. I really enjoy attending mass on Sundays. The mass service seems to fly by and before you know it, you are out in the sun ready to enjoy the rest of your day or some yummy Mexican food down the street! :)

Beautiful church inside. the eathereal background with cherubic angels is a bit odd tho. lol
The priest was a bit chubby like those cherubic angels, and funny, so it was an entertaining wedding.
Close to as nice a service as you can get.
Great weather, maricachis outside and then walk to eat and drink and dance. What’s not to like?