A Neighborhood Church Preparing for Its Centennial
St. Michael's-on-the-Heights sits on Burncoat Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, where it has been a neighborhood church since 1927, when it was founded as a mission. A century later, the parish is preparing to mark its 100th anniversary, and it carries the warmth of a small congregation with deep roots. Today it numbers roughly 40 to 60 households, a mix of families who can trace their involvement back to the founding and others who are brand new to both the parish and the Episcopal tradition. That blend of memory and fresh faces shapes everything from the choir loft to the coffee hour.
The building itself has stories to tell. In 1953 a devastating tornado destroyed the church, an event that became a kind of crucible for the parish. The spirit of compassion and solidarity that grew out of that disaster still shapes the congregation's identity and shows up in its decision to stand beside other communities facing hard times. The Casavant pipe organ inside, a gift from the now-closed St. John's Episcopal Church in Worcester, is a tangible symbol of that continuity. Outside, the narthex has been freshly painted a vibrant red in keeping with the Episcopal tradition of red doors that signal sanctuary and welcome, and a new cross with a bold red overlay rises above it as a beacon on the street.
Sunday Worship at Ten
The heart of the parish is its Sunday morning Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. The service is grounded in the Book of Common Prayer and the 1982 Hymnal, and the liturgy moves through readings, prayers, the Peace, and Communion. Services are offered in both Rite I and Rite II language, and the bulletin walks visitors through every part of the service, including when to sit, stand, or kneel.
All baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, are warmly invited to receive Communion. Those who prefer not to receive may come forward and cross their arms over their chest for a blessing. Children who are baptized are welcome at the altar as well, and on a monthly Children's Sunday the sermon is shaped around them. Children bring forward the elements of Communion, read the Gospel, and serve as acolytes when ready. They also lead musical presentations to the parish throughout the year and walk a child-centered Stations of the Cross on Holy Saturday. Beyond Sunday mornings, the parish underwrites activities like movie outings and sports events to help the children build friendships and grow in faith.
Anyone is welcome to attend the full service, including babies, toddlers, and people of any background. Formal dress is not required, and visitors need not be Christian or Episcopalian to be present. Childcare is available most Sundays for parents who would like a quieter space, though children are always welcome to stay in the sanctuary. Following the Eucharist, everyone is invited to a coffee hour with refreshments, snacks, and often lunch foods. The parish describes this gathering as its 21st-century Agape Meal, a time to feast on God's presence in fellowship and laughter.
Music That Grounds the Liturgy
Music is a cornerstone of life at St. Michael's. The adult choir, directed by Michael Celularo Jr., strives every week to offer music tailored to the Scripture readings of the day. Celularo, who began his musical life as a chorister at All Saints, Worcester, has accompanied choirs on tours of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, and has played the Hook organ at Mechanics Hall and the restored theatre organ at the Hanover Theatre. He is delighted to add the Casavant organ at St. Michael's to that list.
The repertoire draws from the 1982 Hymnal and ranges from plainchant to works by Palestrina, Bach, Lowell Mason, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Organ preludes and postludes frame each service as bookends of reflection. A Children's Choir, led by Sarah-Kate Johnson, gives the youngest members of the parish a chance to grow spiritually and musically, with performances at Christmas, Easter, and other special services. Church attendees of any age are welcome to join either choir.
Marie's Mission: A Ministry Born from Grief
The most visible outreach of the parish is Marie's Mission, a diaper distribution ministry that grew out of the loss of Marie Louise Galvin, infant daughter of Sarah and Patrick Galvin. The Galvin family transformed their grief into a ministry of compassion that now supports families across Worcester. Because diapers are not covered by WIC or food stamps and can cost up to about fifty cents each (with the average newborn using eight per day, or roughly $1,000 a year), the need is significant. A shortage of clean diapers can put children at risk for infections, contribute to sleep deprivation for families, and increase the likelihood of abuse.
Volunteers package diapers on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon, and distribute them on the third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. Diapers, baby wipes, and diaper cream can be dropped off at the church or ordered online for delivery. The ministry keeps its own contact line (774-243-0476) and email, admin@mariesmission.org, and maintains an active Facebook presence.
Reaching Out Across Greater Worcester
Marie's Mission is one piece of a much wider outreach ministry. Under the leadership of Deacon Dianne Wilson, the parish partners with Laundry Love, gathering volunteers at a local laundromat each month to cover the cost of laundry for individuals and families who are struggling financially. The parish also supports Worcester Fellowship, an outdoor church community that gathers on Sunday afternoons with neighbors experiencing homelessness or isolation for worship, pastoral care, and a shared meal. On Thursdays, parishioners help with the Thursday Café at All Saints Episcopal Church, where hot meals, clothing, toiletries, and a warm welcome are offered to anyone in need.
Two other congregations rent space in Tatro Hall on the parish campus: Bride of the Lamb, a Brazilian church, and a Ghanaian church. Their presence is part of a shared mission and brings additional languages and musical traditions into the life of the building.
Pastoral Care, Sacraments, and Parish Life
The Episcopal Church recognizes seven sacraments, two of them considered the Great Sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist. The others are Confirmation, Ordination, Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation of the Penitent, and Unction (anointing of the sick). St. Michael's celebrates all of these and also offers pastoral rites including ministration to the dying, burial of the dead, blessings for civil marriages, and blessings for the birth or adoption of a child.
Pastoral care is woven into the everyday rhythm of the parish. A weekly Monday gathering in the church parlor grew out of a grief group started during the COVID epidemic and has since been reimagined as the Parishioners to Friends group, where members support one another, share their lives, and work toward healing. The women of the parish gather on the second Saturday of each month for connection, conversation, and laughter. Annual parish-wide events include the St. Michael's Day celebration and the Pentecost Breakfast.
Parishioners serve in a wide range of lay roles. Sacristans and the Altar Guild care for the altar, vestments, and linens and decorate the sanctuary with flowers. Ushers and oblationers greet worshipers, distribute bulletins, take up the offering, and guide the flow of Communion. Lectors read scripture and lead the prayers of the people. Chalicists and lay eucharistic ministers are licensed by the bishop to administer the consecrated bread and wine and to bring the sacrament to those who cannot be present. The Building Committee, Stewardship Committee, and Vestry tend to the property, finances, and vision of the parish.
What to Expect and How to Find Them
St. Michael's extends a particular welcome to anyone who has felt hesitant about walking into a church. Crying babies, squirmy toddlers, people of different cultures and religions, and people with disabilities are all always welcome in worship. No one is required to participate in any part of the service, and directions in the bulletin are invitations, not commands. Services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who cannot attend or who simply want a preview.
The parish is led by the Reverend Kathleen Kopitsky, Priest-in-Charge, who serves half time and is available on Wednesdays and Thursdays by appointment at kkopitsky@stmichaelsontheheights.org. The church office can be reached at 508-853-9400 or churchoffice@stmichaelsontheheights.org. The address is 340 Burncoat Street, Worcester, MA 01606. As the parish looks toward its centennial in 2027, it is also prayerfully seeking a new priest who will honor its legacy, embrace its present, and help it dream into its next century.