Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-09
ST. MRRY'S PARISH, PUTNAM
History of Church Since Its Beginning, With Small Number
of Families to Its Present Popuous and Prosperous
State-A Half Century Reviewed

I half century ago, following mission
| airy days of the church in this field,
| to its standing today as one of the
| finest parishes in eastern Connecticut
with upwards of 1000 souls. In each
| sermon a tribute was paid to the pio-'
neers who laid the foundation for the
growth of the church and for the
| teaching of their faith; and the ardu-
Gus, and frequently discourag fng, Ia
bors of early pastors and curates were
| lauded. Both sermons contained spe-
cial tributes to Rev. Charles F. Be
| dard, who during the few years he
| has been in Putnam, has accomplish
ed marvellous results. To him it has,
| been given to guide the parish into
! its present era of notable advance and
achievement, and this work he is car
| rying on with indomitable spirit and
ceaseless energy.
Specially Honored.
During the mass Rev. Father Bedard
| took occasion to direct the attention
of the congregation to the unusual
honor done the parish by Archbishop
Roy, who had gladly come a great dis
lance to assist them in the observance
| of their golden ry.
Music of High Order
Loesch's mass was splendidly sung
by the choir. the organ and orches-
trail ACCOMPANYING being Of festival
! grandeur. The orchestra members
violins; Amadee Lucier. cornet; Henri
Gaudette, flute; William Pechie. bass.
Bishop Milan at Vesper Services.
AT the pontif1cal vesper service in
the evening the celebranr was Rt.
Rev. J. j. Milan. bishop of Hartford
assisted by a number of priests. The
sermon, in Trench. was preached by
Archbishop Roy. Mattsfield's vespers
was sung by the choir. There were
| solo features at this service, as at the
pontifical mass in the morning, when
an Ave Maria was sung by Miss Lo-
rena Gallant and Ovila Guertin. At
vespers duet, O Jesu Mic, was sung
| by Ovila Guertin and Joseph Ricard.
; Church and Vicinity Illuminated.
In the evening the church was bril-
| liantly Illuminated with hundreds of
electric lights festooned from column
to column and across the church. In
| the sanctuary at a lofty point, was
! suspended a, dazzling so, significant of
! the half century passed. All of the
| homes on streets about the church
| property, where reside the majority of
| the Catholic population of The city,
were illuminated.
Inspiring Anticipations.
Inspired by the observances of the
short history of which follows. look
| forward to accomplishments during
| the next so years that will not lack
! In lustre by contrast with the years
of the half century that has come and
| gone, giving them so much in their
religious possessions to be proud of
and thankful for.
History of ST. Marys Parish.
The town OF Putnam was :ncor-
| porated in May 1855. It was IL years
prior to this that Peter Donou gh, in
] 1843 French Canadian, with a large
| family of children, migrated to Pom
fret Factory. Other Canadian families
| after the opening Of the three great
| factories in 1S48 foreign operatives
/ were very generally employed. Up to
this immigration in Pomfret Factory
/ and Rhodesville masters and workmen
We're alike mainly from old Puritan
| families.
First Catholic Pastor.
But with the coming of the foreign
ens things were changed. Rev. Michael
| McCabe was sent by the Catholic
| bishop Of Connecticut to look after
| these wandering sheep and to hold
RELIGIOUS services: Holy mass was
celebrated in Quinebaug hall and an
acre Of land purchased for religious
purposes. Putnam parish, as then
construed, embraced also Pomfret,
1 Woodstock and Thompson. Rev. Will
liam E. Duffy, Pascoag. r. l., was
| pidESu DIS 4 missionary IN
1855. and in the following year laid
the foundation of the first Catholic
house Of worship in northeastern Con-
Inecticut. 1t was small wooden Struc-
turc. costing when completed a little
over two thousand dollars, but was
this migratory and scattered popula :
ton, most Of the Canadians at first
| STAYING to earn a little money and
then returning to Canada
Father vysen's Coming.
Little progress, however, was made
until the advent of Rev. Eugene Vygen
in 1865, a newly ordained clergyman
from Belgium, consecrated to mission
airy work il the United States. Sent
to administer the sacraments to the
Catholics of Putnam, he was greatly
moved by the spiritual restitution of
the people. Without resident priest
Or schools, it is no marvel that the
church of God suffered. The keen
eyed young missionary saw at glance
the great capabilities of the field
Some half dozen large cotton manu-
factories in Putnam and Thompson
were bringing in hundreds OF Catholic
/ families. Putnam village gave promise
of becoming an important business
center and was the natural church
home of the increasing Catholic popu-
llation. With much earnestness FIR
tVygen laid the need and opportunity
before the bishop of the diocese and
Twas allowed to enter upon the Putnam
, pastorate.
Congregation Formed.
The result more than realized hif
most sangulne expectations. Giving
his whole time and energies to the
work, within two years he had Sc
| cured the laying out and conservation
of \ convenient Catholic cemetery pur-
chased land and erected a pastora