St. Michael's is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield and serves the populace of the Catholic Diocese, as well as, St. Michael's Cathedral Parish. It contributes to the community through charitable and spiritual outreach. It provides religious education, spiritual advisement, liturgies, and outreach to the poor and elderly. It was founded in 1847 when there was a controversy and opposition in Springfield to members of the Catholic faith. Since that time, it has been and integral part of the Catholic Church's growth and expansion in what was once a forbidding land. It has served as the mother parish of new parishes set off from it. With time, other parishes were created as the faith became deeply rooted in Western Massachusetts.