The parish has had long ties with the Religious of Jesus and Mary as their main base in New York City.

The Kingsbridge neighborhood was originally part of the City of Yonkers; Catholics in the area were served by priests from St. Mary's Church, and later also the Jesuits of Fordham University (founded as St. John's College).

During his 16-year pastorate, he purchased land and built a small timber-framed church, which was dedicated by John Cardinal McCloskey on December 4, 1877.

Edward O’Gorman was appointed the first resident pastor where he remained for 18 years and during that time greatly increased the church's property holdings.

"[1] “The Convent of Jesus and Mary in Kingsbridge was founded in 1903, and is within the parish limits.”[1] Mother St. Cyril of the RJM Province of Canada had dreamed of establishing a community of sisters in New York City, she received permission to send sisters from Archbishop Corrigan in 1890.

Several Religious of Jesus and Mary had left the mother-house in Rome in 1902 to establish the congregation in New York City.

The first ministry of the RJM in New York City was a free school for Spanish immigrants and to support their work, the sisters gave French, music, and art lessons and took in borders at their house on West 14th Street.

Mother Euphemia's work also led to the establishment of Our Lady of Peace, a residence for young women.

[11] More than 200 RJM sisters dedicated countless years of educational service to thousands of local Catholic boys and girls.

The Family of Jesus and Mary,[12] a group made up of sisters and lay associates, meets monthly at the parish center (their former convent) and also conducts a monthly flea market at PS 207 (the former Godwin Terrace building of St. John's School) to support the RJM mission in Haiti.

The parochial school was located on 3143 Kingsbridge Avenue when it closed in July, 2020, and the other building currently serves as PS 207 at 3030 Godwin Terrace.

Memorable members of their community were Brothers Celestine George, first principal, Arthur Philip, renowned educator in numerous Bronx Parish schools and Adelbert Patrick, noted musician and choral director.

Religious of Jesus and Mary continued to minister in the school until 2018, Sr. Patricia Brito was the last RJM to serve as principal of St. John's Kingsbridge.