St. Joseph Parish has had a long faith journey, beginning in 1855 at 11th and Cherry Street in Milwaukee and now almost one hundred seventy years later, this journey continues at North 122nd Street in Wauwatosa.

In 1860, the first parish school was constructed at a cost of $460.00.  That same year the School Sisters of Notre Dame came to the school to teach eager students.  By 1890, St. Joseph had a parish membership of 1,000 families with 900 students attending the enlarged school. 

In 1962, Bishop William Cousins announced that the “old” St. Joseph would be torn down because the county expressway system needed the land.  Bishop Cousins also informed church members that the parish would transfer to a new ten acre site at 122nd and Center Street in Wauwatosa.  On September 8, 1962, ground was broken for the new St. Joseph School at the Wauwatosa location.  

On a September morning in 1963 the new St. Joseph School opened its doors for students, again under the auspices of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

In 1995, the Parish Council voted in favor of a $1.5 million addition to the school.  This included adding a new computer lab, science room, and gymnasium.  Due to the generous gifts of parishioners, a “mortgage burning” ceremony was held in January of 2000 to retire the debt of the new construction.

2005 marked the 150th anniversary of the founding of St. Joseph Parish.  In 2006, the present pastor, Father James Kimla, came to St. Joseph Parish.  During the summer of 2010 another renovation of the computer lab took place.  At this time, all new PC’s were added to the lab and to all of the classrooms.

At the present time, the School Administrator and teachers with the support of the pastor and the parish community continue to lead St. Joseph School in its tradition of a “faith centered – future focused” education.