St Joseph's was founded in Armada, Michigan in 1974 as the first SSPX Seminary in the United States. Five years later the seminary was moved to Ridgefield CT, and the property was turned into a convent for the SSPX Sisters. In 1990 due to a lack of catholic schools, Father Novak opened a K-12 grade school which replaced the convent. A few years later in 1994 the school added a boys boarding school. In 2005 with growing classes and the need for a larger facility, Fr. Novak entrusted the search of a new property to Father Michael McMahon. After finding and purchasing the La Salette Father's Seminary in Olivet Illinois, the students and some faculty of St Joseph made the move to Illinois and La Salette Academy was established.