A Large Parish at the Heart of Cary
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church fills a growing corner of Cary, North Carolina, with more than 6,000 registered families and a campus that has expanded steadily since the current church was dedicated in 1996. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Raleigh and serves residents of Cary and Morrisville as well as a wider circle across Wake County. Worship is offered every day of the week, faith formation stretches from infancy through adulthood, and the parish operates its own preschool and elementary school on the same property.
The parish describes itself as "a place where faith and community meet" and works hard to keep a small-parish feeling inside a large-parish body. "One of the words we hear most often associated with St. Michael is 'home,'" the parish writes. "Imagine a place where you can pause, breathe, and feel truly at home." Spanish-language Masses, an active Hispanic Ministry, an outreach program called SHARES, and a sister-parish relationship in Honduras round out a community rooted in Roman Catholic teaching and threaded into the rhythm of everyday Cary life.
Very Rev. Scott E. McCue, V.F., the parish's tenth pastor, was installed by Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama on September 25, 2024. Father Scott also serves as Dean of the Raleigh Deanery. Pastors Emeriti Msgr. Douglas P. Reed and Msgr. John A. Wall remain close to the parish, joined by Parochial Vicars Fr. Lourduraj Alapaty and Fr. Thomas Tully and five deacons who serve in every corner of parish life.
Six Sundays and a Saturday Vigil
St. Michael offers a full weekend schedule designed to fit the pace of modern Cary families. On Saturday evening, a 5:00 pm vigil Mass is livestreamed, followed at 7:00 pm by a Spanish-language vigil Mass that is also livestreamed. Sunday brings six Masses in the church:
- 7:00 am - quiet, no music
- 8:30 am - livestreamed
- 10:30 am - livestreamed (the largest parish gathering)
- 12:30 pm
- 2:15 pm - Misa en Español, livestreamed
- 5:00 pm - Praise and Worship Mass
For anyone who has not been to Mass in a while, the parish points to the gentle helpers who wait near the doors. "Feel free to just follow along with what the rest of the congregation is doing, and if you get lost, just find one of our Hospitality Ministers and let them know it's been a while; they'll be happy to seat you near someone who can help you along." Recordings remain available after each Mass on the parish streaming channels.
The Daily Round of Mass and Private Prayer
The Mass is celebrated every morning of the week at 7:00 am, Monday through Saturday, and at 8:30 am Monday through Friday. The 8:30 am Mass is livestreamed for those who cannot be present. On Tuesdays a 7:00 pm Mass in Spanish is also livestreamed. On civic holidays a single 9:30 am Mass replaces the daily schedule.
The church is open for private prayer from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The parish describes these quiet hours with characteristic warmth: "He has been waiting for you. Just as you are - in your brokenness, in your questioning, in your joys and sorrows - He just wants to be with you."
Confession and Eucharistic Adoration
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Tuesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 pm, on the first Saturday of each month from 7:30 to 8:30 am, and on Saturdays from 2:00 to 4:00 pm (the last penitent is admitted at 3:45 pm). Confession is not heard on Holy Saturday or during other times noted on the parish calendar.
Eucharistic Adoration takes place on Fridays from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, with Benediction at 4:45 pm, and on Tuesdays from 8:30 am to 6:45 pm during the seasons of Lent and Advent. Volunteer adorers sit with the Blessed Sacrament in hourly shifts because the Eucharist is never left alone in the monstrance. Walk-ins are always welcome; for those who have never been, the parish simply says, "There's no set ritual or way you have to pray; just simply enjoy the silence and talk with the Lord."
The Hispanic Ministry and Misa en Español
Spanish-language worship is woven into the regular parish schedule. A Saturday 7:00 pm vigil, a Sunday 2:15 pm Mass, and a Tuesday 7:00 pm daily Mass are all celebrated in Spanish, and the parish maintains a Spanish-language website and bulletin. Mass Intentions at the Spanish-language liturgies are reserved for Spanish-speaking parishioners.
The Hispanic Ministry is directed by Deacon Luis Royo and staffed by Associate Director Lilian Teran, Hispanic Faith Formation Coordinator Veronica Capacetti, Hispanic Coordinator of Liturgy and Ministry Formation Sor. Lizbeth Hernandez, and Madre Lucia. Their work touches every corner of parish life: liturgical preparation, faith formation for children and adults, sacramental preparation, and outreach to local Hispanic families. A sister ministry, the African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network (AAMEN), gathers parishioners of African ancestry for prayer, social events, and the Dr. Charles C. Scott AAMEN Education Assistance Program, a scholarship for college-bound students in the region.
Becoming Catholic Through OCIA
Adults who want to explore the Catholic faith enter through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, known as OCIA. St. Michael runs two OCIA groups each year, and Bill Burns, Associate Director of Adult Evangelization and Formation, walks inquirers through the process from first question to Easter Vigil. The parish welcomes four kinds of seekers: catechumens who have never been baptized, candidates baptized in another Christian denomination, baptized Catholics who still need First Communion and Confirmation, and adult Catholics simply hungry for more.
"OCIA is a journey of discernment, not a commitment," the parish explains. "Your commitment comes when you receive the sacraments and formally accept the faith. Before that, it's a time to explore." Weekly meetings combine catechesis and small-group sharing, rites and ceremonies mark the milestones, and the Sacraments of Initiation are typically received at the Easter Vigil. A separate 10-session program is offered for already-baptized Catholics who only need Confirmation.
The First Sacraments: Baptism, First Communion, and Beyond
Baptism is celebrated in monthly group rites on Saturdays at 10:00 am and occasionally within the Sunday liturgy. Parents must be registered parishioners - either by residence in the Cary or Morrisville parish boundary or by prior registration at least six months before the baptism. A baptism preparation class meets on designated Saturdays at 10:30 am. Godparents must be at least 16, fully initiated Catholics in good standing with the Church, and (if married) married according to Catholic form.
First Reconciliation and First Communion are usually celebrated in second grade through a two-year Sacramental Preparation program. Children older than seven who have not yet received the Eucharist follow the Intermediate Sacramental Preparation track, with family-based catechesis in year one and First Reconciliation and Communion in year two. Confirmation preparation is a separate track for middle-school and high-school youth, and adult Confirmation sessions begin each August and January, with the sacrament celebrated on Christ the King Sunday and on Pentecost Sunday.
Marriage, Anointing, Funerals, and the Columbarium
Couples preparing for marriage at St. Michael work with Maggie Fonseca, Associate Director of Marriage and Family Life. The parish celebrates weddings, prepares engaged couples, and welcomes couples whose civil marriage needs to be blessed by the Church through a convalidation. Anointing of the Sick is offered to parishioners facing serious illness or the frailty of old age.
Funerals are coordinated by Diane Williams, Coordinator of Funerals and Columbarium, who walks families through the liturgy and helps them plan a meaningful farewell. A columbarium on campus provides a final resting place for parishioners who wish to be interred at their home parish. Weddings, funerals, and other gatherings are also scheduled in the church through the parish office.
Faith Formation from Preschool Through High School
The Faith Formation Office, directed by Joyce Blum, organizes formation for every age. The OCIA process is one arm; another is the Children's Faith Formation program, which prepares public-school children for the sacraments through weekly classes and family gatherings. Intermediate Sacramental Preparation catches up older children who were baptized but missed First Communion.
Middle school youth in grades 5 through 8 gather on Sundays at 3:00 pm in the parish gym under the ECYD-Challenge and Conquest model. Large-group prayer and team-building give way to small, gender-specific groups led by teen mentors and supervised by adult volunteers. Dara Hadley serves as Middle School Youth Minister. The High School Youth Group meets on Thursday nights in the Conference Center under Christina Dietzler, High School Youth Minister, for fellowship, Scripture prayer, and service planning. Adult volunteers who serve as youth mentors must be Safe Environment Level C certified.
Adult Formation and Growing in Faith
Adult formation at St. Michael runs the spectrum from structured Catholic studies to small prayer gatherings. Adult Sunday School meets three Sundays a month at 8:30 am in the Conference Center Gallery. Bible studies, men's groups, women's groups, and prayer groups gather across the week, and a separate Confirmation track for already-baptized Catholics rolls on a 10-session schedule.
Every parishioner has free 24/7 access to two online platforms: Formed.org, with video studies, audio talks, and movies; and the Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University, with tracks for catechists, youth ministers, parents, and pastoral leaders. The parish lists more than sixty ministries in total, spanning faith formation, liturgical service, social outreach, professional networking, crafting, and prayer.
St. Michael Preschool and St. Michael School
The preschool opened in 1984 as the Early Childhood Center and is now St. Michael Preschool, directed by Paula Renke with Melanie O'Brien as her assistant. The preschool shares the Trinity Center with the parish offices and admits children of parish and non-parish families alike.
St. Michael School, founded in 1999, is a parish elementary school serving students in the lower grades under Principal Tara Navarro and Assistant Principal Susan Leising. Lilly Pena serves as Director of Admissions and Communications. The school shares the campus with the church and the preschool, and a Catholic Steward Tuition Rate is available to active parish families who worship regularly and contribute to the parish through time, talent, and treasure.
Pastoral Care and the Works of Mercy
The Pastoral Care and Social Action Office, directed by Carolyn Wilson, lives out the spiritual and corporal works of mercy inside the parish. Pastoral Care Desk volunteers call the sick and elderly each week. Partners in Prayer gathers the community's prayers for those in need. The Prayer Blankets Ministry wraps handmade blankets around those who are suffering. Eucharistic visits bring Communion to the homebound, the hospitalized, and those in senior living centers.
Catholic in Recovery meets every Wednesday at 7:00 pm, blending the spiritual principles of 12-step recovery with the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Bereavement Support Groups meet in morning and evening sessions. Meals in Need, Volunteer Caregivers, and the Elizabeth Ministry extend the parish's reach to families in crisis, and an Assistance Form connects parishioners and non-parishioners alike to community resources.
SHARES: Help for Local Families
SHARES - Serving Hope, Assistance, Resources, and Emergency Support - is the parish's signature outreach to local families working toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. Family Case Manager Gloria Grove meets with families, listens to their needs, and connects them with parish and community resources. Emergency assistance is available through the SHARES fund; volunteers support the ministry's case work; and the parish invites anyone in need to reach out.
"Whether you would like to learn more, volunteer, support SHARES, or are in need of assistance," the parish writes, "we invite you to stop by and connect with us." Donations to SHARES can be designated through the parish's online giving portal.
Honduras Sister Parish and Outreach Beyond Cary
Beyond Wake County, St. Michael maintains a sister-parish relationship with Nuestra Señora de Suyapa in Honduras. Parishioners support the sister parish through prayer, financial contributions, and occasional mission trips. The work is coordinated through the parish office and publicized through the bulletin and weekly e-news.
Other outreach efforts include the Respect Life ministry, the Parish Environmental Stewardship Ministry, the St. Monica Ministry for those who have lost children, and Habitat for Humanity. The parish describes its ministry directory as including something for every kind of parishioner: "young, families, crafters, service-oriented, professional, liturgical, and more." An active That Man Is You men's ministry gathers on Thursday mornings from 7:00 to 8:00 am in the Conference Center.
Mass Intentions, Altar Flowers, and the Bulletin
Parishioners may schedule Mass Intentions - prayers offered at a specific Mass for the living or the deceased - through the parish's Mass Intentions Online portal or by calling the parish office. Requests open in three-month increments on the third Tuesday of the preceding month. The typical offering is $10, though no offering is required, and requests are limited to one Mass per month per household.
Altar Flower Donations of $150 per week are scheduled through a similar online system. The flowers that adorn the altar reflect the colors and seasons of the Church's liturgical calendar, and donors may dedicate their gift in honor or in memory of a loved one. The Sunday bulletin is published weekly and is available in print at Mass and online; a separate weekly e-news is sent by email, and the parish blog shares longer feature stories and announcements.
A Look Back: From Mission Church to Tenth Pastor
St. Michael began as a mission church in 1963, with the first Mass celebrated by Rev. Michael Carey at Cary High School. The mission was officially recognized as a parish in 1967 and grew rapidly over the next decade. A first full-time pastor arrived; the first mission statement was drafted; and the original church was dedicated.
In 1984 the Early Childhood Center opened its doors, the seed of today's preschool. By 1992 the parish had outgrown its home, and the current High House Road campus was chosen. The new church was dedicated in 1996, the Parish Center in 1997, the stained-glass windows in 1998, and St. Michael School in 1999. Since 2000 the campus has continued to expand, absorbing the former Westwood Baptist Church property and adding Archangel Hall, a new baptismal font, and the columbarium. Recent renovations to mark the 25th anniversary of the High House Road church included a redesigned sanctuary with a newly consecrated altar.
Father Scott McCue became the parish's tenth pastor in 2024 and is leading the parish through the How Firm a Foundation initiative, a season of prayer, discernment, and planning as the parish prepares for the next chapter of campus growth. He celebrated the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination in June 2026.
Joining, Giving, and the Mission of St. Michael
Parish registration is open to anyone who lives in the Cary or Morrisville parish boundary or who wishes to register with St. Michael as their home parish. The parish office, located in the Trinity Center on campus, is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with summer Friday hours of 8:00 am to 12:00 pm from early June through early August. The office is closed daily for lunch from 12:30 to 1:00 pm. An after-hours emergency line is available at 919.368.0150.
Giving is accepted through online donations via Realm, text-to-give, mailed envelopes, online bill pay through most banks, stock transfers coordinated through the Diocese of Raleigh, and Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs. The parish is a 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Annual giving statements are available through Realm or by request.
"St. Michael is a Roman Catholic community that worships God with joy, draws people to Christ, and forms them as INTENTIONAL DISCIPLES," the parish mission statement reads. "Welcoming all, we grow together through WORSHIP, EDUCATION, and SERVICE, and are sent forth to love others and share the Gospel." The parish believes in one God the Creator, in His Son Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead to redeem humanity from sin, and in the Holy Spirit who guides and sustains us. At the center of that faith is the Eucharist, the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, celebrated and received here every day of the week.