The Church of the Visitation was the vision of Father Dennis Dwyer, who, in 1995, led discussions about a
mission church in Elbert County. Father Dwyer met with people in Elizabeth, Kiowa, Franktown and Elbert to
assess the interest and need.
On Easter Sunday 1996, Father Dwyer celebrated the first Mass at St. Mark’s Fellowship Hall in Kiowa. From
1996-97, Masses were held on a regular basis at the temporary location off County Road 17 near Highway 86.
In the summer of 1997, Father Dwyer celebrated Mass outdoors on newly acquired property on County Road 33.
In spring of 1998, Bishop Richard C. Hanifen and Father Dwyer conducted the groundbreaking ceremony. On
Nov. 28 of that same year, Bishop Hanifen celebrated the dedication for Our Lady of the Visitation.
Father Brian Mohan was reassigned from Ave Maria Parish in Parker to become the new pastor of Our Lady of
the Visitation in June 2007. In September 2011, Father Marek Krol took over as pastor. Father Robert Newbury,
Jr. was assigned as pastor in July 2015.