Detroit — Parishioners at St. Thomas More Parish in Troy last weekend endured a difficult reminder of the situation involving their suspended pastor, Fr. Edward Belczak, and former parish manager Janice Verschuren.

Fr. Belczak, 69, and Verschuren, 67, were indicted last week and arraigned earlier this week, and are facing charges in federal court with the embezzlement and misuse of nearly $700,000 from the parish. They face five counts, ranging from mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy involving funds missing from St. Thomas More between 2004 and 2012.

In January 2013, the archdiocese suspended Fr. Belczak as pastor of St. Thomas More after an internal audit suggested nearly $429,000 in “questionable financial transactions” at the parish. Verschuren also left her position at the parish about the same time.

At the time, the archdiocese announced that it had turned its findings over to civil authorities. It has continued to cooperate with the Troy Police and the federal investigation.

Among other things, federal authorities are accusing Fr. Belczak of using $109,570.80 in parish funds to purchase a Florida condo from Verschuren in 2005. The FBI, which has been investigating the case, filed court documents April 21 to seize the condo.

Fr. Belczak also is accused of diverting several hundred thousand dollars from the 2006 bequest of a deceased parishioner into an unauthorized separate account and using the funds for personal gain, and conspiring with Verschuren to take donations from holiday collections, donations to the church and funds from the St. Thomas More Travel Group.

Jerome Sabbota, Fr. Belczak’s lawyer, told The Detroit News his client was innocent of the charges and would work to clear his name.

“He’s presumed innocent and the conclusion is he’s innocent,” Sabbota said. “We haven’t seen any evidence. All we hear is allegations.”

If convicted of the charges, Fr. Belczak and Verschuren could face up to 20 years in prison.

The indictment alleges Fr. Belczak approved and submitted false financial reports to the archdiocese to cover the alleged misuse of funds.

The archdiocese has continued to pay Fr. Belczak’s salary while on suspension, but is not funding his legal defense.

Fr. Belczak last year had moved out of the rectory at St. Thomas More Parish. He continues to live in the Detroit area, Sabbota said.

Fr. Belczak, who had been pastor of St. Thomas More for nearly 30 years, has been given permission since his suspension to fill in and celebrate Mass on limited occasions at other churches. He has not celebrated Mass at St. Thomas More since his suspension last year.

Msgr. John Zenz has served as temporary administrator of the 2,500-family parish during the investigation and court proceedings.