OUR HISTORY

 

In the mid-sixties, the Italian community, felt a need to have Mass said in Italian and approached Bishop Green in this regard. Contact was made with the Franciscan Order in Bologna and they were requested to send a priest to Port Elizabeth. Fathers Alberto De Vito and Albertazzi were the first priests to arrive.

Mass in Italian was first said at the St Francis Chapel at 29 Heugh Rd in the house belonging to the Prata family. Soon the house became overcrowded and it was decided to buy a piece of land and build a church.

The present property was purchased and the Presbytery was built which was used for Mass for a while as the planning and fundraising for the new church was organized. The church was finally blessed by Bishop Green on 10 September 1967. The first Holy Mass was celebrated by the parish priest, Fr Alfredo, on 19 November 1967. 

Over the years a number of additions were made to the property, most recently being extensions to the church building which were completed in 2013.

 

A huge Thank You to all our Parishioners and Benefactors who contributed to the upkeep and upgrade of our beautiful church over the years, especially the Italian community who took that first step 50 years ago in making this possible.