“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
John 1:4

With a visionary mindset, Fr. J. Meyer, SSJ(MILL HILL), decided to build a church in the spacious grounds of the New Town Catholic Boys’ School in Vepery High Road. The construction was entrusted to the engineer and architect Messrs, Enright and D. Perera. On 05.10.1907, the first Archbishop of the Madras Archdiocese, His Excellency Dr. T. Colgan, laid the foundation stone for the church. Due to a lack of funds, Fr. Meyer could not complete the construction. Fr. Fruytier, SSJ(MILL HILL), who continued the work, made minor changes and continued the construction. The church was consecrated as St. Joseph’s Church on 19.03.1912 by Archbishop Dr. Allan of the Madras Archdiocese. On 01.08.1930, His Excellency Bishop E. Mederiest, SDB, elevated St. Joseph’s Church, Vepery, to a separate parish, appointing Fr. J. McCormack, SDB, as the first parish priest. During Fr. Tabo’s tenure (1936-1942), the parish priest’s residence was expanded. On 19.03.1937, the church’s silver jubilee was celebrated. During Fr. Peter Lobo’s tenure, on 01.08.1955, the silver jubilee of the Vepery parish was celebrated. During Fr. S. Arulappa’s tenure (1962-1968), a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was constructed, and Don Bosco Middle School was renovated. On 19.03.1962, the parish’s golden jubilee was celebrated. Fr. Arulappa was later transferred as Archbishop of the Hyderabad Archdiocese. Fr. P. C. Balasamy renovated St. Anthony’s Church in Periyamet and later became Bishop of the Nellore Diocese in 1974. During Fr. P. T. Arulappa’s tenure, the church was renovated and beautified. Additionally, the second-floor building of the Anglo-Indian school was constructed. Fr. John Pillaveettil raised funds and constructed the third-floor building of the Anglo-Indian school. Fr. Stanislaus renovated the church and built new classrooms for the primary school. On 01.08.1980, the golden jubilee of the Vepery parish was celebrated. During Fr. M. Anthony Sami’s tenure, the 75th anniversary of the church was grandly celebrated on 19.03.1987. Fr. Louis replaced the church roof and established a basketball court. During Fr. Stanley Sebastian’s tenure, the church and school premises were maintained, and the surroundings were beautified with Kadappa stones and tree planting. During Fr. Jose V. Thomas’s tenure, the 75th anniversary of the Vepery parish was grandly celebrated on 21.08.2005. During Fr. Patrick I. Joseph’s tenure, the church was renovated, a new flagpole was installed, and the centenary celebration of the church was grandly held on 19.03.2012, led by Archbishop Dr. A. M. Chinnappa, SDB, of the Chennai-Mylapore Archdiocese. The historic church, having undergone wear and tear, was renovated during Fr. E. Santiago’s tenure and was consecrated and reopened on 18.03.2023 by His Excellency Archbishop George Antonysamy of the Chennai-Mylapore Archdiocese.