Founded shortly after the Catholic University of America, the Franciscan Monastery, and the Dominican House of Studies, the parish church is located at 1029 Monroe Street NE in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, commonly referred to as "Little Rome".

[1] In 1891, Antoinette Margot, an associate of Clara Barton and founding member of International Red Cross, moved to the newly developed Brookland area.

[2] She and her friend, Leonide Delarue, obtained the assistance of the head of the Ancient Languages Department at the Catholic University of America, Fr.

[2] Among the first parishioners were members of the Brooks, Julien, Yznaga, Gannon, Paige and Rianhardt families.

[3] The official parish was later created by Cardinal James Gibbons with the appointment of the first pastor, Desire C. DeWulf.