Reverend Walter J. Riley

Beloved Pastor, Reverend Walter J. Riley, 63 of West Boylston, passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Friday, February 9, 2024 after a brief illness.

Fr. Riley was born in Worcester where he grew up on Lincoln Street, one of sixteen children to the late Richard F. and Marie (Fiore) Riley, Sr. He was a graduate of St. Peter Marian Central Catholic High School, Class of 1978 where he was a member of the baseball team who in 1977 won the Div. 1 Baseball State Championship. Fr. Riley furthered his education at Quinsigamond Community College, graduating in 1982 with an Associate of Arts degree and later earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Assumption College in 1984.

Fr. Riley began to discern a vocation to the priesthood in 2000. Feeling called to serve the Lord, he completed his studies for priesthood in 2006 at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD, receiving a Master of Divinity degree.   Fr. Riley was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 2006, by Bishop Robert J. McManus, at Saint Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester.  As a priest in The Diocese of Worcester, Fr. Riley’s assignments included being associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Worcester from 2006-2010; Catholic Chaplain to the City of Worcester Fire Department from 2007-2021; He was named Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Worcester from 2010-2021; He served as the Director of Priest Personnel from 2014-2021; He was named Pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Westborough from 2021-2022; and in July of 2022, he was named the current Pastor at St. Anne’s Church in Shrewsbury. Fr. Riley was also a lecturer in the Pastoral Ministry Department at Anna Maria College.   Prior to entering the priesthood, Fr. Riley worked for UPS for 22 years and was a member of the Teamsters.

In his spare time, Fr. Riley enjoyed golfing with his brothers, nephews, and friends, especially his best friend of 50 years, Terry Dunn.  He also was extremely knowledgeable and had a passion for history, particularly the Civil War, taking numerous trips to Civil War Sites across the United States and was an avid collector of artifacts and memorabilia.

Fr. Riley was a faithful priest of God who preached the truth of The Gospel message to all he encountered and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He had great joy when individuals would deepen their relationship with Christ through the sacraments and was also instrumental in bringing the Peace of Christ to the suffering at heart.

Fr. Riley is survived by his beloved seventeen siblings, Richard Riley, Jr., Kathleen Cavan and her husband Timothy, Paul Riley and his wife Julie all of West Boylston, Thomas Riley and his fiancé Bozenna Boudrot of Worcester, John Riley and his wife Mei of West Boylston, James Riley and his wife Pamela of Auburn, William Riley of Worcester, Margaret Holloway and her husband Paul of Worcester, David Riley and his wife Patricia of Ludlow, Mary Dowd and her husband John of Auburn, Christine Consolmagno and her husband Alan of Worcester, Elizabeth Riley of Auburn, Bernard Riley of Worcester, Joseph Riley of Shrewsbury, Edward Riley of Paxton and Joel Massa and his wife Meri of Worcester; thirty-four nieces and nephews, thirty-two great nieces and nephews, many friends, fellow priests and parishioners.  Besides his parents, he is predeceased by a stepsister, Theresa Begley.

Calling Hours will be held on Friday, February 16, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by a Liturgy of the Word Service at 7:00 pm in St. Bernard’s Church of Our Lady of Providence Parish, 228 Lincoln St., Worcester.  His Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 17th at 11:00 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church of Our Lady of Providence Parish. Interment will follow in Saint John’s Cemetery, Worcester. His Funeral Mass will be livestreamed by visiting olpworcester.tv

Out of respect for the Lenten season, please omit flowers and make contributions in his name to: The Visitation House, 119 Endicott St., Worcester, MA. 01610.  MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.