Northborough Pastor Accused of Stealing $230k to Feed Gambling Habit

By Brad Petrishen
The Metrowest Daily News
October 14, 2013

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/newsnow/x1155177550/Northborough-pastor-accused-of-stealing-230K-to-feed-gambling-habit

Fr. Stephen Gemme from St. Bernadette's Parish in Northborough.

NORTHBOROUGH —

St. Bernadette Parish pastor Stephen M. Gemme has resigned, the Worcester Diocese said, after allegedly embezzling more than $230,000 over four years to feed a gambling addiction.

“This is very distressing news that I share with you today,” Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus wrote in a letter posted to the parish website. “It is tragic.”

Gemme, 43, stole hundreds of thousands from both the church and the school. McManus wrote, and is currently being investigated by the district attorney.

McManus said he began an inquiry into the church’s finances in July after an Advisory Board member drew his attention to expenditures in a “single account” in the school budget.

McManus said Gemme “acknowledged a gambling problem” to him in a meeting the next day, at which point McManus revoked his authority to sign checks and placed him on medical leave.

McManus said he just recently received the results of an audit that showed that Gemme, over a period of the last four years, used more than $110,000 of school money and $120,000 of parish money “for personal expenditures unrelated to the parish or school.

“As a result of the magnitude of the misuse of funds, the matter has been referred to the (Worcester) District Attorney’s Office,” McManus wrote.

Gemme, who was appointed as pastor in 2003 and re-appointed to a six-year term in 2009, resigned last Thursday, McManus wrote. According to the parish website, Gemme has overseen the expansion of the parish from 400 to 800 families following the 2004 closures of churches in Marlborough and oversaw a nearly $1 million improvement to the campus in 2006.

“Even in light of this serious breach of trust, we must remember that Fr. Gemme has done much good for many of you and your families, as well as for your parish and school,” McManus wrote. “It will take time for us to find healing and I can only ask that you keep the parish and school community in prayer over the coming weeks and months.”

McManus assured church and school members that overall finances are strong, and said he is pursuing full restitution for the stolen money.

He said he anticipates naming a new pastor soon. In the meantime, Rev. Richard Reidy, the vicar general for the diocese, will serve as administrator for the parish while Rev. John Hamm provides daily pastoral needs.

Located at 266 Main St., the parish celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2009. Its school was established in 1997, and serves more than 530 children from pre-kindergarten to grade 8.