St. Rose of Lima Church, Monroeville was established in 1868. Missionaries first came to this part of Allen County in the early 1800s. Father Stephen Badin, one of the first pioneer priests ordained in the original thirteen colonies, visited the present site of Monroeville in 1831. Later Rev. Julius Benoit, Rector of the Cathedral in Fort Wayne, came to Monroeville to celebrate Mass in the homes of local settlers.

St. Rose Parish was truly formed, however, when land was purchased to build a church in 1868. It was Fr. E. P. Walters who erected a 50x52 wood frame church and named it in honor of St. Rose of Lima, the first native-born saint of the New World, born in Lima, Peru in South America.

The wood frame Church served as a mission church until it was destroyed by fire in October 1887. Only the bell and stations  of the old Church were saved as plans immediately were drawn up for a new Church. The cornerstone  for the present Church building was laid on July 1, 1888 by Bishop Joseph Dwenger. The new Church, a graceful Gothic brick building that seats about 240, measuring 35 x 95 feet  and with a steeple that reaches 102 feet built at the cost of $9,500, was dedicated on May 12, 1889. A special train, fifteen coaches in all, packed with visitors made the trip from Fort Wayne for the event. The parish register lists 250 families.

St. Joseph School opened in the fall of 1912 under the title of St. Rose Academy, with 27 girls and 42 boys.  Rev. Norbert Felden was the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish at the time and helped build the school with generous contributions from the parishioners. Rev. Charles W. Marr who was the pastor from 1909-1922 sought St. Joseph’s intercession in defraying the debts which were incurred by modernization and establishment of the commercial school.  His prayers were answered, and soon the school was renamed St. Joseph’s School.