The Church of St Alphonsus was founded by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSsR), commonly known as the Redemptorists.

The first novenas began in a small chapel in 1949 with just 80 people.

By the 1990s 15,000 or more people attending the 10 sessions of novena devotions held every Saturday.

After its latest renovation completed in 2017 the number was estimated to have doubled.