DETROIT — The longtime former pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Troy who pleaded guilty in September in connection to allegations he misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in parish funds was sentenced Dec. 1 to serve 27 months in prison and pay $573,000 in restitution.

U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow sentenced Fr. Edward Belczak to serve the prison term, despite requests from the priest’s attorney and supporters for a more lenient sentence. The sentence was less than the 37 months prosecutors sought, however.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Detroit said the archdiocese fully respects the judge’s decision and urged continued prayers for all involved, including parish members and those close to Fr. Belczak.

“There is a lot of hurt resulting from this crime, a lot of wounded people,” said Ned McGrath, director of communications for the archdiocese. “We continue to pray for healing at the parish and for all those impacted, including Fr. Belczak.”

Speaking in court during his sentencing hearing, Fr. Belczak, 70, admitted he had “stained the reputation” of the priesthood and asked for forgiveness from his former parishioners. He called his decision to take parish money to gamble in the stock market “selfish,” and said he often drank alcohol to excess.

"By lying and drinking and stealing and gambling, it took away my peace," he said, adding the “guilt and embarrassment” of his deeds were often “overwhelming.”

Fr. Belczak was removed from St. Thomas More Parish in January 2013 after financial irregularities were discovered during an archdiocesan audit. He was subsequently banned from publicly representing himself as a priest after being charged with the federal crimes in 2014.

A parish office manager, Janice Verschuren, also pleaded guilty in November to stealing more than $25,000 from the parish and is scheduled to be sentenced in 2016.

With sentencing by the court completed, the archdiocese intends to resume canonical proceedings against Fr. Belczak, a statement from the archdiocese said.

Fr. Belczak served as pastor of St. Thomas More Parish from 1984-2013. Before then, he served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Farmington (1980-84), and as associate pastor and later co-pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, Royal Oak (1972-80).