History of St Mary of the Visitation Parish
			1849
										July 8, the first Mass in the area was offered in the home of Nicholas Cosgrove by Rev. William Logan, S.J.  Rev. Philip Sacchi, S.J. assisted in ministering to the Catholics of the area. Rev. Peter Blekinsop, S.J. succeeded Father Logan.  He was known to have offered Mass in the home of Ambrose Lapointe.
								In May, the care of the infant congrgation was given to a Franciscan, Rev. Michael McCabe, who bought one acre of land from Mr. Smith Wilkinson for church purposes.
			1852
									Rev. William Duffy of Pascoag, R.I. became Pastor and erected the first church in Putnam on the corner of Marshall and Providence Streets.
			1858
		1866
									Saint Mary became a parish with Rev. Eugene Vygen as Pastor who built the first rectory.
		1868								Saint Mary Cemetery was consecrated.
		1870								Erection of the first brick church with granite trimmings, where the present church now stands.  Cost: $85,000.
											Arrival of the Sisters of Mercy.  Erection of the convent and opening of the parochial school.  Two years later Notre Dame Academy was established.
			1873
			1875
										February 6, the church was destroyed by fire.
										The cornerstone for the new church was laid.
		1890
		1902									Rev. John Van Den Noort succeeded Father Vygen.  The Catholic population of Putnam was at 3,160.
		1904								Bishop Tierney of the Hartford Diocese dedicated the new church on April 10, 1904
											Rev. Charles Bedard became Pastor after Father Van Den Noort retired.  Father Van Den Noort returned to Holland where he passed away.  There were 4300 hundred members in the parish. Daughters of the Holy Ghost undertook the work begun by the Sisters of Mercy.
		1913
		1915									The present rectory was built.
										The church was renovated by Father Bedard.  New pews were installed.
	1917
		1923								The school received a 12 room addition.
		1927
										Father Bellerose died and is buried in St Mary Cemetery.
										Father Bedard passed away and was succeeded by Rev. Ulderic O. Bellerose. His administration was marked by intense youth activities.  The first graduate of St. Mary School became a priest, Father Omer Mandler.
		1932
		1933
										Parish celebrated 75th "Diamond Anniversary"
			1941						Rev. Charles H. Paquette arrived and continued the trend of youth activities.
									Pastor and Monsignor Jean-Charles Mathieu and his assitants, Father John Wodarski and Father Omer Mandler continued after the death of Father Paquette.
			1943
		1950
									Monsignor Mathieu died and is buried in the Parish Cemetery.  Monsignor Donat Jette arrived from New Haven and directed much needed repairs to Parish property.
		1955
										Parish had 6000 members.  The old convent was torn down.
		1956								St. Mary Church was renovated and the entire parish property was improved.
										The new convent was dedicated.
		1962
																																								Photos are courtesy of Aspinock Historical Society
		1964								Monsignor Jette retired.  Monsignor Paul Auclair arrived and took leadership of the Parish at all levels.  He directed the renewal of Parochial life initiated by the Second Vatican Counil.
		1966
									One Hundreth Anniversary of the founding of the Parish.
		1979
									Monsignor Auclair retired and Father Richard LaRocque arrived as Pastor.  He initiated the Visitation Ministry, as well as the Litergical Ministries.
			1982
									Father La Rocque renovated the church.  It was rededicated by Bishop Daniel Reilly.
			1984							Father La Rocque was transfered to Stafford Springs.
			1985						Father Francis O'Keefe arrived as Pastor.  He repaired the Rectory roof, enlarged the cemetery and strengthened the Ministries.  He was very active in Ecumenical activities, Hospice and Hospital Chaplaincy.
			2000
										Father O'Keefe left St. Mary and was replaced by Father Roland Cloutier.
			2002
											Father Cloutier initiated the painting of the interior of the church and other needed repairs of many Parish community buildings.
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