In January 1852, the Jesuits took charge of the parish at Guelph when the Bishop of Toronto, Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel appointed Fr John Holzer SJ, to be pastor there.

In July 1885, the Bishop of Hamilton, James Joseph Carbery laid the foundation stone for the church which was designed by Joseph Connolly, who also designed the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph and St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica, London.

Over the course of the following decades, the Jesuits handed over various parishes, such as Holy Cross, Georgetown and St. Peter’s Church in Oustic to the priests of St Joseph's to administer.

[5] In 2001, the Jesuits were asked by the Bishop of Hamilton, Anthony F. Tonnos, to run the Holy Rosary Church and they continue to serve the parish.

There are also weekday Masses at 9:00am from Monday to Friday all year round and at 7:00pm Thursdays from September to June.