Masses were initially held in a former carpenter's shop at the southeast corner of Second Avenue and East 47th Street before the congregation grew and raised enough funds to construct a new church.

Francis X. E. Albert received permission to open St. Anthony's Chapel in the parish's school hall to provide special masses for its Italian-speaking members.

Ten years later Cardinal Patrick Hayes decided to create a separate parish to serve the growing number of Italian immigrants in the area, which amounted to nearly 9,000 members.

This required condemnation of all of the buildings along the south side of East 47th Street, including St. Boniface's church, rectory, and parochial school.

[9][10][11][12] Over 2,000 people signed a petition sent to the Board of Estimate to block the proposed demolition of the church and asked the city to select another street to serve as the approach to the United Nations.