Preparing

Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus Robert E Desrosiers, left, and David J. Meunier Sr., prepare to escort their pastor, Very Rev. David P. Choquette down the center aisle before the Mass at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam on Sunday, April 3. The mass celebrated the founding of the worldwide Knights of Columbus organization 134 years before, in 1882. The anniversary is known as Founder’s Day. Photo: John D. Ryan.

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PUTNAM — At first, it seemed like an ordinary Sunday morning at St. Mary Church of the Visitation. The 9:00 a.m. Mass started on time. The choir had practiced thoroughly and the lectors spoke well. But there was one thing out of the ordinary on April 3: More than a dozen men were wearing distinctive dark blue sashes. They were Knights of Columbus from Putnam’s Cargill Council 64, there to celebrate their worldwide order’s 134th anniversary, known as Founder’s Day.

“Our council exists to make a difference in our churches and in our community,” said Cargill Council Grand Knight Matthew R. Frederick. “We wanted to be part of Sunday’s Mass to show our neighbors that Cargill’s Knights remain committed to our faith, our parishes, our families and to northeastern Connecticut.”

What was unusual during the celebration were the Knights wearing their distinctive blue K of C sashes escorting their pastor, Very Rev. David P. Choquette, himself a Knight and Cargill Council’s chaplain, down the center aisle before and after Mass.

Cargill Council 64 was founded in Putnam in 1892 and has been operating continuously ever since, 10 years after the worldwide K of C began. Made up of over 200 local Roman Catholic men and their families, the council covers parts of Windham County, in the areas served by St. Mary Church of the Visitation Parish in Putnam, and Most Holy Trinity Parish, in Pomfret.