Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Barangay Palanan, Makati City was founded on August 3, 1961. Many of SJWP early parishioners personally assisted in the construction of the first building and contributed to the church’s empty coffers
In 1960, sensing the growing spiritual needs of the barrio, its residents, with the approval of the incumbent Parish Priest Rt. Rev. Fr. Magtanong Cruz filed a petition for the creation of Barrio Palanan into a new parish. The petition was approved in 1961 by the Archbishop of Manila, the late Rufino J. Cardinal Santos.
Prior to its canonical erection, St. Joseph the Worker Parish was a part of the Parish of San Isidro Labrador in Pasay City. The spiritual needs of the residents in Barrio Palanan were administered by the parish priest of San Isidro. Masses were only celebrated on Sundays and some holidays of obligation.
On March 24, 1962, the parish was erected together with the installation of the parish priest, the late Rt. Msgr. Fernando Mempin, D.P. The new parish was named after the universal patron saint of workers St. Joseph the Worker. Thus, the celebration of the barrio fiesta is on May 1st of every year.
In 1989, the parish experimented with a parish-wide election. At about the same time, the reconstruction of the parish church was also being considered to accommodate approximately double the number of parishioners for every mass.
During the period of Rev. Fr. Ben C. Arceno, more organizations were formed. Trans parochial groups were welcomed in the parish like Couples for Christ, Lord’s Flock Community and El Shaddai. The PREX was introduced in October 1995. Formation/ Education Ministry became the Parish Priest’s direct concern and it was this period when the Catechism of the Catholic Church was launched as a vicariate activity.
In July 1998, the Parish Prayer Gathering started as a monthly celebration of SJWP. Retreats & recollections were supported and district participation in street masses and