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	Father Michael Jude Fay, Convicted Pastor, Dies in Prison By Susan Shultz Darien Times August 22, 2009 http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35038: father-michael-jude-fay-convicted-pastor-dies-in-prison&catid=1:darien-local-news&Itemid=1323 Father Michael Jude Fay, the longtime St. John Roman Catholic Parish pastor, who was sent to prison for stealing more than $1 million from his parish, died in prison Saturday, the Diocese of Bridgeport told The Darien Times. Father Fay, 58, was suffering from prostate cancer. Fay was serving a 37-month sentence in a Butner, N.C., federal prison, for the theft. In May 2006, it was discovered that Fay was using church money to support a lavish lifestyle, which included trips to Europe, the Caribbean and other parts of the United States. A private investigation — prompted by another church priest and the bookkeeper, who both left the parish in 2006 — also discovered that Fay was in a romantic relationship with another man. Fay resigned shortly after the news broke. An August 2006 independent audit commissioned by the Diocese of Bridgeport, reported that St. John Parish lost at least $1.4 million since 2000. Fay became church pastor in 1991. No other details were released by the diocese other than confirming that Father Fay died today. Father Frank McGrath, the pastor who replaced Father Fay in 2006, announced the death at 4 p.m. mass. The reaction from the parishioners was subdued. "I think people were stunned by the news and didn't expect it to happen this soon," McGrath said. He said it was very tragic and sad "but we are counting on the Lord's light to come through the darkness." He said he spoke with Fay's brother, and he conveyed the parish's condolences to Fay's family, especially his mother. McGrath said he expected some parishioners to grieve because of the tragedy of the situation and how sad it was, and because of their closeness with him as a priest and because he got them through some very tough times. "They cared for him very deeply." He said there is another group that remains hurt and bitter over what Fay did, and he hopes they can look beyond that feeling and react to this as the death of a man. "Naturally, I am petrified about going to prison," Fay told The Darien Times in a 2008 interview before he began serving his prison term. "God forbid I would have to go through with this," Fay said, "my 36-month sentence, or whatever it is, becomes a death sentence for me."
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