Worcester Fire Chaplain's Funeral Will Cause Lincoln Street Delays: PD

WORCESTER, MA — Drivers should plan to avoid Lincoln Street Friday afternoon due to services for the Rev. Walter Riley, the Worcester Fire Department Catholic chaplain who died Feb. 9 at age 63.

Calling hours for Riley will start at 3 p.m. at St. Bernard's, which is located between I-290 and the Lincoln Street split with Burncoat Street. Delays will begin earlier than 3 p.m. due to high anticipated attendance, Worcester police said.

"There will be anticipated delays around Saint Bernard’s Church located at 228 Lincoln St. today between the hours 1:45 and 8 p.m. Please avoid the area if possible," Worcester police said in a tweet Friday morning.

Riley served as the fire department's chaplain between 2007 and 2021 — a period when three Worcester firefighters died in the line of duty — but also led several churches in the area.

According to his obituary, Riley was the pastor of Christ the King Church in Worcester between 2006 and 2010; Immaculate Conception Church in Worcester from 2010 to 2021; St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Westborough from 2021 to 2022; and St. Anne’s Church in Shrewsbury since 2022. Riley was also a lecturer at Anna Maria College.

Calling hours Friday will last until 7 p.m. with a service to follow. Riley's funeral mass will happen Saturday at 11 a.m. also at St. Bernard's. He will be buried at St. John's Cemetery in Worcester after the mass.