The church was first erected in 1622 by the crew of the Portuguese ship São Bartholomeu who had a narrow escape from their Dutch pursuers in the Taiwan Strait while en route from Macau to Nagasaki.

The crew vowed to build a church to commemorate the Virgin Mary if they managed to return to Macau, and made good on that promise upon their return.

The church was then constructed in 1622 and became the property of the Augustinians until 1834 when they were expelled from Macau.

[1][2] At the front courtyard of the church stands the Our Lady of Lourdes statue.

At the steps of the hillside staircase exists the picturesque grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.