It is under the authority of the Diocese of Bridgeport, and was founded under the patronage of St. Rose of Lima, the first person born in the Americas to be canonized by the Catholic Church.

From late June to early July 1781, Count Rochambeau encamped at Newtown and it is presumed the French chaplains celebrated Mass for the troops.

[1] The parish was founded in 1859, the first in that region of the county, originally serving 11 towns in the northern part.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, located at 40 Church Hill Road, provides education to children in preschool through eighth grade.

[5] That evening, a candle-light vigil was held at St. Rose Church, at which various religious leaders of the town and the Governor of Connecticut, Dan Malloy, addressed the assembled crowd.

The parish offered a special Mass that same evening and the church remained open throughout the night, in order to provide a place of comfort for the people of the town.