| A Vibrant History On the occasion of the Parish’s 75th Anniversary in 1992, Rev. James Haddad wrote in the Commemorative Book, “The history of the Catholic Church in Needham is a story of growth and generosity on the part of our forbears and contemporaries. New edifices have been built to house an ever increasing number of worshippers and a parish center and school enable us to gather more easily and to better educate. Our center is a place of welcome for all of Needham’s citizens and our school is home for the 800 youngsters in our religious education program and for the 500 who study here daily.” Over 15 years later this statement still rings true. Capital campaigns and building improvements continue, enrollment in our religious education programs and schools remain strong, and our Parishioners continue their generosity with a shared mission of building a strong Catholic Church into the future. Following is a brief history of how Saint Joseph’s Parish and Schools came to be. We all know, of course, that buildings alone do not make a community. We are forever indebted to the many visionary Pastors in our long history, to the many priests who have served here, to the Sisters of Charity who instructed thousands of children through the years in the faith and academic excellence, and to the many volunteers and Parish staff who have infused the Parish with their ideals, service and commitment to Christian values. Over 100 Years Ago Saint Joseph Parish had humble beginnings in the second half of the 19th century as a Mission of parishes in Roxbury, Newton Upper Falls, and Natick. In 1891 the cornerstone for the first church building was laid at the corner of Highland and May streets where Saint Joseph Church now stands. The wooden building was dedicated in May 1894, but was tragically destroyed by fire in February 1913. The Needham community came together to help clear away the ruined part of the church and reconstruction began. In April 1917 Saint Joseph’s became a Parish and opened its new church a year later in November 1918 – a handsome gothic-style building. The Growth Years In 1955 the long-time dream of Pastor Twigg became a reality when a nine-room School and Parish Center were dedicated by Cardinal Cushing. Now a full campus, Saint Joseph Parish was humming with activity. The next logical step was to build a convent, which opened in 1959 to house the Sisters of Charity of Halifax who ran the school which doubled in size after just five years. Meanwhile, the church building itself became too small to hold the fast-growing number of Parishioners. Expansion continued and the new Saint Joseph Church was dedicated on March 19, 1966, on the feast of our patron saint. This was just 100 years since a private Mass was first said in Needham at the Newell home and 75 years since the Mission of Saint Joseph’s was established in 1891. Today Saint Joseph Parish has come a long way - we now have two schools, which have both continued to grow steadily over the years and are considered the flagship Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. In 2001 the convent was renovated into a state-of-the-art early childhood facility to house the kindergarten classes. Other upgrades to the Elementary School included a Library/Media Center, Computer Lab and Art Room. A new state-of-the-art Middle School opened in 2002 which was named for Monsignor James. J. Haddad whose vision made the school possible. Mary’s Garden, featuring a beautiful statue, lovely plantings and park benches was dedicated several years ago and a new statue of Saint Joseph was installed in the front of the church facing Highland Ave in the spring of 2008. Rev. David O'Donnell continues a long tradition of strong leadership of Saint Joseph Parish. The Parish remains fiscally robust. Campus facilities continue to be maintained and improved. Religious education enrollment continues to increase. Most importantly, the Saint Joseph Parish community continues to grow in worship and service together, rooted in Christ and bonded by prayer. | 
