LINCOLNSHIRE, Illinois – October 4, 2026 – Most Rev. David L. Ricken, Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, has appointed Rev. Francis Joseph “Fr. Rocky” Hoffman, JCD, as President and Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States. Fr. Hoffman continues to lead Relevant Radio as Chairman and CEO.

“I am very pleased to announce that Fr. Francis Hoffman has accepted an appointment to serve as President and Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion,” said Bishop Ricken. “Fr. Rocky, as he is more commonly known, has deep roots throughout our diocese and across the nation, and has long been a devoted champion of the National Shrine.”

In 1859, Our Lady appeared to Servant of God Adele Brice in Champion, Wisconsin, and instructed her to “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.” Since then, the Shrine has become a beacon of hope for tens of thousands of pilgrims who bring their prayer intentions, ask for miracles, and encounter Christ through prayer and the Sacraments.

Rev. Anthony Stephens, CPM, who has served as rector since 2024, has transitioned into a new role at The Shrine as Director of Sacramental Life and Pastoral Care of Souls. He and his fellow Fathers of Mercy will continue celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and guiding the liturgies.

Fr. Hoffman now leads two distinct Catholic apostolates united by one mission: to teach the Catholic Faith and help souls encounter Jesus Christ. Relevant Radio has long promoted the annual Walk to Mary, which drew 10,000 pilgrims on the 22-mile walk to the Shrine this May. Relevant Radio will broadcast the Solemnity Mass of Our Lady of Champion on October 9.

“The management team at Relevant Radio has matured to the point where I am able to take on this additional responsibility for the Church,” said Fr. Hoffman. “That is a credit to the people who have built this apostolate over the past sixteen years.”

The appointment comes during a season of growth at The Shrine, which recently saw the opening of the cause for sainthood of Adele Brice.

“It is my hope that every baptized Catholic in America and Canada, and any other person of good will, make a pilgrimage to this Shrine at least once in their life, and experience the life-changing graces of a good confession, as well as the mercy of God through the powerful intercession of Our Lady of Champion,” said Fr. Hoffman. “This is the only Church-approved apparition of the Blessed Mother in the United States, so we all need to make the most of it.”

Learn more about the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion at championshrine.org.
Download the Relevant Radio app at relevantradio.com/app.

FAQs

Will Fr. Rocky be leaving Relevant Radio?
No. Father Rocky will continue in his role as Chairman and CEO of Relevant Radio in addition to his new role as President and Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion.

Will The Shrine and Relevant Radio be merging?
No. The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion and Relevant Radio remain two separate organizations, each continuing its own important work in service to the Church.

Where does my gift to Relevant Radio go?
All gifts to Relevant Radio will continue to support the Relevant Radio mission to bring Christ to the world through the media. The Shrine will conduct its own separate fundraising efforts.

Who serves the pilgrims at The Shrine?
Rev. Anthony Stephens, CPM and his fellow Fathers of Mercy will continue to provide for the sacramental needs of The Shrine, celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and guiding the liturgies.

What is the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion?
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion is the first and only Catholic Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States, and is located in Champion, Wisconsin. The Shrine covers the peace-filled holy ground where Mary, the mother of Jesus, appeared to a Belgian immigrant woman named Adele Brice on October 9, 1859, identifying herself as “The Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners.”

More information on The Shrine, its history, and events is available online at championshrine.org.