WORCESTER -- A Catholic priest who pleaded guilty in court to stealing nearly $240,000 from St. Bernadette Parish and School in Northborough to feed a gambling habit has been returned to parish ministry on a limited basis.

Rev. Stephen M. Gemme will be allowed to celebrate Mass and other sacraments in parishes in need of assistance when their own priest is on vacation, retreat or unavailable due to illness or emergency, Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Worcester Diocese announced on Friday.

Gemme will not have any involvement with administrative duties while assisting in a parish, McManus said.

Gemme was pastor at St. Bernadette's when he was removed from ministry by the bishop in 2013 after admitting to a gambling addiction. Gemme pleaded guilty in 2015 to stealing from the parish and was placed on five years' probation.

He entered into a restitution agreement with the Diocese and its insurers. He underwent treatment for his gambling addiction, according to the Diocese.

In March 2016, the Rev. Gemme was granted limited faculties to return to pastoral ministry in non-parish settings. He has been saying Mass and administering the sacraments at Crozier House, a residential facility operated by Catholic Charities for men recovering from addictions, the Diocese said.