A Roman Catholic priest is scheduled to be sentenced March 30 after pleading guilty yesterday to child rape and other offenses involving a young girl who was a member of his parish.

The Rev. Robert E. Kelley, 48, the former pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Gardner, pleaded guilty in Worcester Superior Court to assault with intent to rape and two counts each of unnatural rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child.

The offenses occurred between Sept. 1, 1983, and April 1, 1985, in Gardner, according to court records. Father Kelley was pastor of Sacred Heart at the time, according to the Rev. John W. Barrett, director of communications for the Diocese of Worcester. The female victim is now 16 years old.

In a prepared statement read by Father Barrett, Bishop Timothy J. Harrington said, "As bishop and spiritual father of this diocese, the charges brought against Father Kelley and his having pleaded guilty to them saddens me and, I am sure, the family of the whole church.

"My heart goes out to the victim, her family and loved ones. I cannot undo the damage done to them," Bishop Harrington said. "I can only offer my prayers and seek the prayers of others for all who have been hurt."

After accepting the guilty pleas, Judge Herbert F. Travers Jr. revoked Father Kelley's bail and ordered that he be held at the Worcester County Jail until sentencing.

Assistant District Attorney Mary Gecewicz recommended a sentence of five to seven years in the state prison in Walpole. Under such a sentence, Father Kelley would be eligible to seek parole after three years and four months.

Travers revoked Father Kelley's bail on the recommendation of Mrs. Gecewicz. Defense lawyer Thomas F. McEvilly argued in favor of his client remaining free on bail until sentencing.

In early April 1985, McEvilly said, about four years before police began investigating the allegations that resulted in the charges against Father Kelley, the priest voluntarily entered the House of Affirmation, a 14-month residential therapy program in St. Louis. McEvilly said the investigation began last year after the victim told someone at school what had happened to her.

Father Barrett said Father Kelley went on sick leave in April 1985, then took a leave of absence in June 1986. Father Barrett said Father Kelley has not been active in any ministry in the diocese since 1985 and that it was unlikely he would be in the future.

Father Kelley told Travers that he underwent "intensive" individual and group psychotherapy at the House of Affirmation.

Since leaving St. Louis, McEvilly said, Father Kelley has been living with his parents in Worcester and running a landscape photography and floral business. For the last 5 1/2 years, there has been "not even a suggestion of any wrongful conduct" on the part of Father Kelley, McEvilly said.

McEvilly submitted a psychiatric report to the court that he said gave "an indication of the affliction with which Robert Kelley has had to cope over the years." McEvilly will make his sentencing recommendation March 30.