In July 1898 Father Buonaventura Piscopo's efforts to combat immoral behavior in the area prompted death threats.

The Saint Rocco of Potenza Society was originally founded in 1889 at the now demolished St. Joachim's Church on Roosevelt Street.

[3] Due to manpower shortages, in March 2014, the Franciscans withdrew from Most Precious Blood and it came under diocesan administration.

[1] The church was designed by William Schickel & Company, who provided an Italian Franciscan style structure.

The building was renovated in 1995 by the Gargiulo Brothers Construction Company of Mount Vernon, to repair damage suffered from water leakage and general disrepair.