St. John Chrysostom Parish was officially established on Wednesday, February 20, 1952. The new parish in West Roxbury was primarily an off-shoot of St. Theresa of Avila Parish in West Roxbury and incorporated territory belonging to Sacred Heart, Roslindale and St. Mary's, Dedham. On January 22, 1952, Rev. (Msgr.) Joseph P. Mantle, curate at St. Theresa's from 1940-1952 was appointed the first pastor. The site chosen for the new church was on Washington Street, beyond the intersection of Washington Street and the West Roxbury Parkway.

A native of Roxbury, Msgr. Mantle prepared for the priesthood at St. John Seminary and the North American College in Rome. He was ordained in the Eternal City by Cardinal Pompilli on December 21, 1929. Gregory Cardinal Agagianian, Patriarch of the Armenians, touring the United States at the time, ended his visit in Boston in January 1952 and, at the request of then-Archbishop Cushing, named the new parish St. John Chrysostom.

The first Mass was offered in the new church on Sunday, December 14, 1952 with Archbishop Cushing presiding. Attending were The Most Rev. Jeremiah F. Minihan, then pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Norwood and Msgr. Charles A. Donahue, pastor of St. Theresa's.

Msgr. Mantle's pastorate spanned almost a quarter century. Although the official date of his retirement was March, 4, 1975, he bid farewell to the parish in June 1974 and was honored at a reception in the parish hall named after him. Major events in his pastorate were his silver jubilee in December 1954 and being named a monsignor on November 22, 1968. He passed away on September 12, 1979 at Regina Cleri. The Most Rev. Lawrence J. Riley presided at his funeral Mass on Saturday, September 15.

A new era of growth in the parish began on March 4, 1975 with the appointment of a team-ministry of two priests, Rev. Paul W. Berube and Rev. Victor C. LaVoie. Team-ministry was a new arrangement in the archdiocese of priests serving equally in a parish instead of a pastor and assistants arrangement. The two new priests, before coming to St. John's, were curates at St. Mary's Parish in Chelmsford. The Most Rev. Lawrence J. Riley, regional Bishop for the parish installed the two on Sunday evening, March 16, 1975.

1977 marked the 25th year of the parish. A dinner-dance reunion was held at Moseley's on the Charles on Sunday evening, October 23. Cardinal Medeiros offered a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, December 18.

A major accomplishment of the team ministry was building a parish center adjacent to the church and remodeling the parish hall. Ground was broken for the two-story building on Sunday, September 4, 1977. The Most Rev. Thomas V. Daily dedicated the Center on Sunday, June 18, 1978. The team ministry of Fr. Berube and Fr. LaVoie ended in June 1979.

A new team ministry of Rev. Joseph K. Fagan and Rev. John J. Crowley began on October 1, 1979. Within a year, tragedy struck the parish as Fr. Crowley became ill with viral encephilitus. After a long stay at the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain, he became a permanent patient at the Youville Hospital in Cambridge. Fr. Crowley's assignment at St. John's ended on June 2, 1981. He was succeeded on the team ministry by Fr. Garrett J. Barry. Fr. Crowley passed away on January 31, 1985. The Most Rev. Daniel Hart presided at his funeral Mass on Monday, February 4.

In 1981, the church underwent a major renovation. A new entrance was established on the parking lot side and the sanctuary was redesigned with a seating arrangement around the altar. The first Mass was offered at the Easter Vigil. Cardinal Medeiros rededicated the Church on Saturday, September 12. The second team ministry of Fr. Fagan and Fr. Barry ended on September 10, 1985.

Rev. Paul A. Phinn was appointed the second pastor on September 12, 1985. Fr. Phinn was no stranger to West Roxbury as he grew up in St. Theresa's Parish. In his seventeen years as pastor, Fr. Phinn has maintained the parish plant in excellent condition. In July 1999, a new steeple was erected over the main entrance, creating a new appearance for the church. Inside the church, a stained glass window depicting St. John Chrysostom graces the back wall of the former sanctuary. New stained glass windows depicting a number of saints have also been installed on all of the other windows.

2002 will mark the Golden Jubilee of St. John Chrysostom Parish. A Mass of Thanksgiving with Cardinal Law is planned for Friday, September 13, the feast day of our patron Saint. A Jubilee banquet will follow on November 15 at Moseley's in Dedham.