Relevant Radio’s ‘Father Rocky’ named new director of Our Lady of Champion shrine

Father Francis J. Hoffman, an Opus Dei priest known as Father Rocky, has been named president and rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin. Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay announced the appointment in a letter to the faithful.

Father Hoffman, who serves as chairman and CEO of the Catholic radio and streaming network Relevant Radio, will continue his leadership roles at the network while overseeing the shrine's strategic planning, spiritual needs, and temporal needs. He succeeds Father Tony Stephens, a member of the Fathers of Mercy. Father Stephens will remain at the shrine to serve as director of sacramental life and pastoral care of souls. Bishop Ricken stated that Father Stephens and other priests from his order will continue to celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and guide liturgies at the site.

The shrine commemorates the 1859 appearances of the Virgin Mary to Adele Brice, a Belgian immigrant and Servant of God. Bishop Ricken formally opened the canonization cause for Brice in January.