FALL RIVER (MA)
Herald News [Fall River MA]
July 1, 2025
By Dan Medeiros
Key Points
- The Rev. Jay Mello of Fall River has been under investigation for sexual misconduct since June 2024.
- The Catholic Diocese of Fall River said its investigation is completed and Mello was found to be credibly accused of sexual misconduct with two parishioners.
Jay Mello, the former pastor of St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s parishes in Fall River, is restricted from returning to priestly duties after an investigation by the Diocese of Fall River found “credible allegations” that he engaged in sexual misconduct with two parishioners.
The diocese on July 1 announced the end of an investigation begun a little more than a year ago.
The diocese’s Ministerial Review Board, comprising mostly lay people, evaluated the investigation; Bishop Edgar da Cunha completed an independent review, and together determined that “some, though not all, of the allegations were credible, including credible allegations that Father Mello abused his position of power as a priest and engaged in sexual misconduct with two parishioners he was counseling.”
The diocese said Mello will not be returning to lead those parishes.
How the Father Jay Mello investigation began
Mello was a beloved Catholic priest at the Fall River parishes and pastor of St. Michael’s School, a pre-kindergarten to Grade 8 Catholic school on Essex Street. Active in the community, Mello also served as a chaplain for the Fall River Police Department and served on the committee for the Greater Fall River Vocational School District.
The investigation began in June 2024 when Mello was placed on administrative leave over allegations of sexual misconduct. Mello was removed from pastoral duties and not allowed to live in the St. Michael parish rectory.
Da Cunha noted that “there are no allegations of inappropriate conduct with minors.” That remains the case.
At the time, Mello denied the allegations. He stepped down from his positions at the Police Department and the vocational school district amid the controversy.
However, in October 2024, just before a planned walkout at St. Michael’s School by supporters of Mello who demanded transparency, da Cunha took the unusual step of commenting on the investigation before it was complete – da Cunha announced that Mello had admitted to “serious misconduct” during the course of the investigation.
What do we know about the misconduct?
The nature of the sexual misconduct is not known, beyond that the victims are not minors.
The diocese noted that “not all ministerial misconduct is criminal, and the term also includes violations of professional standards and pastoral care.”
However, attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has represented multiple victims of clergy sexual abuse, in June 2024 claimed that Mello sexually abused a 28-year-old man in the early 2010s.
“He trusted Father Mello, and Father Mello took advantage of him sexually,” said Garabedian at a press conference at the time. “There was no consent in this sexual relationship. It was a violent incident … and my client fled.”
Garabedian had said the alleged abuse occurred in the rectory at St. Francis Xavier Church in Acushnet. At the time, Mello was assigned to St. Patrick Church in Falmouth, but was covering for another priest in Acushnet.
It is not known if Garabedian’s client is one of the two people in the diocese’s current investigation who made credible allegations. However, when reached by phone July 1, Garabedian told The Herald News his client was “interviewed by a representative of the diocese of Fall River” about six or seven months ago.
“We’re awaiting a decision,” Garabedian said.
Who is Father Jay Mello?
Mello was born and raised in Fall River, a graduate of Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. He attended the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology. After graduation, Mello attended the American Seminary in Rome.
He was ordained a priest in July 2007 at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River, and returned to Rome to study dogmatic theology. Upon his return to the United States in 2008, he was assigned to St. Julie’s Parish in Dartmouth and was chaplain at Bishop Stang High School. In 2010, he was reassigned to St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth and in 2012 he was reassigned to St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield. He was reassigned to St. Michael Parish shortly afterward, and in 2019 became the police department’s chaplain.
During the investigation, Mello found support from his parishioners on social media; even after da Cunha announced that Mello had admitted to misconduct, supporters stood out in front of the diocese’s chancery building on Highland Avenue to show support and pray for the priest.
“This investigation has been difficult for many in our Diocesan community,” said da Cunha, “and especially for those who have been harmed by clergy abuse and misconduct. My prayer is that the conclusion of the investigation can bring some closure and healing to the St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s Parishes.”
How priest sexual misconduct cases like Mello’s are investigated
The diocese has a dedicated department, the Office of Safe Environment, to deal with complaints of sexual abuse at the hands of staff and ministry. People can file complaints a number of ways, from anonymous phone calls to email to an online system called Awareity.
Director of Safe Environment Carolyn Shipp said in an interview in July 2024 that investigations are conducted by a retired Fall River police detective, sometimes in conjunction with an investigative firm. Reports are brought before the Ministerial Review Board for review. In the meantime, the Office of Safe Environment provides support for the victims.
The diocese’s confidential voicemail phone number is 508-985-6508. Shipp may be reached by email at cshipp@dioc-fr.org.
Garabedian said this does not go far enough.
“This is further evidence that the clergy sexual abuse crisis is unfortunately still in existence, and the Fall River Diocese along with other dioceses cannot properly supervise their priests,” Garabedian said.
Garabedian called for an “independent investigation of the Fall River Diocese and dioceses around the country so that children are protected. The harm is too great to children to leave an entity like the Catholic Church, which has a poor track record with regard to clergy sexual abuse, to protect the children.”
He suggested that people who are victimized by priests should call the police.