The story behind

The first Italian priests—Frs. Marco Grossi, Bernardo Borgogno, and Clemente Canavero—arrived in the Philippines on July 7, 1935. They were welcomed by Msgr. William Piani and initially took residence at the Apostolic Nunciature along Taft Avenue, Manila. Later, they transferred to Lipa City, warmly received by Bishop Alfredo Verzosa, then Bishop of Lipa.

The Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, located at 2130 F. B. Harrison Street, Pasay City, was established as a condition for entry into the Archdiocese of Manila, under Archbishop Michael O’Doherty. On August 10, 1941, under the leadership of Fr. Bernardo Borgogno, SSP, the Society of St. Paul established a community residence along F. B. Harrison Street.

The parish was canonically erected on October 5, 1941, with Fr. Jerome Casolari as its first parish priest. However, shortly thereafter, World War II broke out on December 7, 1941. Following the liberation of Manila, the reconstruction of the church began in 1948 and lasted nearly four years, completed in 1951.
On December 16, 1951, the first Filipino priests—Frs. Moises Pascual Leviste, Francisco Joseph Villena, and Zosimo Augustine Gile—were ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Gabriel Reyes of Manila.