About Our Lady of the Angels · Worcester, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Angels Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Worcester, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Worcester. The parish was organized in 1916 by its first pastor, Fr. Michael J. O'Connell, and worships in a large Neo-Gothic church on Main Street that was completed on Christmas Day 1928. Today the parish serves Worcester families through daily and Sunday Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and the parish school (Our Lady of the Angels School, founded 1947), and is led by Fr. Derek A. Mobilio, who was appointed pastor in July 2025.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Angels
- Rector
- Rev. Derek A. Mobilio
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Angels offers the full rhythm of Catholic life on Main Street in Worcester: three Sunday Masses, a daily 9:00 AM Mass Monday through Thursday, and a Saturday Vigil, plus Tuesday-morning Eucharistic Adoration and regular Confession. The parish is tightly bound to its parish school (Pre-K through Grade 8), giving families an integrated parish-school community, and the pastor and parishioners are visibly active in the wider Worcester community — including diocesan and campus-ministry outreach such as Father Mobilio's chaplaincy at Worcester State University.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 8:15–8:45 AM
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:15–8:45 AM
History of Our Lady of the Angels Parish
Our Lady of the Angels Parish was organized in 1916, with the first Mass celebrated by its founding pastor, Fr. Michael J. O'Connell, on October 8, 1916 in the auditorium of the Gates Lane School. The congregation moved to a repurposed barn at Main and Montague Streets in February 1917, then grew quickly enough to warrant a purpose-built church. The cornerstone of the present Neo-Gothic church was laid June 19, 1927; it was designed by architect George B. Haynes of Pittsfield and built by Keefe Brothers of Worcester. The first Mass in the completed building was celebrated on Christmas, 1928.
- Parish organized: 1916
- First pastor: Fr. Michael J. O'Connell
- Original worship site: Gates Lane School auditorium (Oct 8, 1916)
- Second worship site: repurposed barn, Main & Montague Streets (Feb 1917)
- Cornerstone of current church: June 19, 1927
- First Mass in current church: Christmas, 1928
- Construction cost: ~$350,000
- Seating capacity: 1,000
1984–1985 Restoration and the J. W. Walker Pipe Organ
Within a decade of its construction, the building began to suffer from water damage and structural problems. After more than forty years of deliberation, a $600,000 Restoration Fund Drive was launched in 1984. A second cornerstone was laid on May 12, 1985. A centerpiece of the restoration was the installation of a new J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd pipe organ — the church's first legitimate pipe organ, replacing a cabinet organ. The instrument arrived from England on Columbus Day, 1984, was dedicated by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan on December 8, 1985, and gave its inaugural recital under Dame Gillian Weir on February 11, 1986. Walker took particular care not to obscure the great gable window when positioning the organ.
- Restoration Fund Drive launched: 1984 ($600,000)
- Second cornerstone laid: May 12, 1985
- Pipe organ arrived from England: Columbus Day, 1984
- Organ dedicated by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan: December 8, 1985
- Inaugural recital by Dame Gillian Weir: February 11, 1986
Architecture and Sacred Art
The church is a large Neo-Gothic (Gothic Revival) edifice, and is particularly known for its stained glass windows, designed by John Terrance O'Duggan. The interior is dominated by the great gable window depicting Our Lady of the Angels surrounded by nine choirs of celestial spirits. When the Walker pipe organ was installed in the 1980s, it was positioned so as not to cover this central window.
- Architectural style: Neo-Gothic / Gothic Revival
- Architect: George B. Haynes (Pittsfield, MA)
- Builder: Keefe Brothers (Worcester)
- Stained glass: John Terrance O'Duggan
- Great gable window: Our Lady of the Angels with nine choirs of celestial spirits
Our Lady of the Angels School
Our Lady of the Angels School, located at 1220 Main Street, is a parochial elementary school serving boys and girls in preschool through Grade 8. It was founded in 1947 under the leadership of then-pastor Fr. M. Charles Carey and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Although the Sisters no longer staff the school, their educational vision — geared to the spiritual, academic, social, and physical growth of the whole child — continues to shape its mission. The school principal is Ms. Corey Maloney, and the pastor of the parish serves ex officio as head pastor of the school.
- Founded: 1947
- Founding pastor: Fr. M. Charles Carey
- Founding religious order: Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
- Location: 1220 Main Street, Worcester
- Grades served: Preschool through Grade 8
- Principal: Ms. Corey Maloney
- School phone: (508) 752-5609
- School website: ourladyoftheangels.us
Community Life and Outreach
Beyond the parish school, Our Lady of the Angels is connected to the wider Worcester community through its pastor's campus-ministry work and other initiatives. Fr. Derek Mobilio serves as chaplain at Worcester State University, and in June 2026 he joined a public 'Operation Carry the Cross' hike up Mount Wachusett, where he celebrated the Votive Mass of the Mystery of the Holy Cross on the summit. The parish community supports diocesan outreach and continues to live out its long-standing partnership with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur through the school.
- Campus ministry at Worcester State University (pastor's chaplaincy)
- Diocesan outreach initiatives supported by parishioners
- Public witness events (e.g., Mt. Wachusett cross hike, June 2026)
Visit and Contact
The parish church is located at 1222 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. The parish office can be reached by phone at (508) 791-0951 or by email at [email protected]. The current parish website is olaworcester.org, and the parish also maintains an official Facebook page.
- Address: 1222 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01603
- Phone: (508) 791-0951
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: olaworcester.org
- Facebook: Our Lady of the Angels, Worcester
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael J. O'Connell1916–
Founding pastor who celebrated the parish's first Mass on October 8, 1916 in the Gates Lane School auditorium.
- Fr. M. Charles Carey
Pastor who, in 1947, led the founding of Our Lady of the Angels School together with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
- Fr. Joseph A. Marcotte
Temporary administrator prior to the current pastor's appointment.
- Fr. Mark S. Rainville
Former pastor of Our Lady of the Angels; previously pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Fitchburg.
- Rev. Derek A. Mobilio2025–
Current pastor (appointed July 2025); OLA School alumnus, graduate of St. Peter Marian Central High School, SUNY Oswego (applied mathematics & meteorology), UMass Amherst (statistics), Providence College (M.Ed.), and St. John's Seminary Brighton. Also serves as chaplain at Worcester State University.