BROOKLYN PRIEST TO DIRECT

                                        NATIONAL SHRINE PILGRIMAGES

            Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has announced that Father Joseph T. Holcomb, the pastor of St. Finbar’s Church, Bath Beach, will begin duties in January as Director of Pilgrimages at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

            Father Holcomb, whose appointment is effective Jan. 22, completed six years as pastor of St. Finbar’s in October, when he accepted the new position for a term of five years. He will succeed Msgr. Walter R. Rossi, who became shrine director this year.

            Msgr. Rossi said the shrine’s board of trustees was “extremely grateful to Bishop DiMarzio for his generosity in releasing Father Holcomb for service to the shrine and appreciate the sacrifice Bishop DiMarzio is making to benefit the shrine.”

            In assuming his new work, Father Holcomb will draw on his experience from coordinating four diocesan pilgrimages to the popular Marian shrine in October of l997, 2000, 2002 and 2004.

            The 2000 pilgrimage, during the Holy Year, brought more than 6,000 parishioners from Brooklyn and Queens to Washington. In the other years, pilgrims numbered between 3,500 and 5,000.

            “It’ll be different from being a pastor,” Father Holcomb said, “but I’m excited about this new challenge. I’m looking forward to it.”

 He described it as a position “where you can influence many people because thousands come to the shrine every year.” It has about 750,000 visitors a year.

The shrine’s annual schedule includes pilgrimages from archdioceses and dioceses and ethnic groups.

            Father Holcomb will arrive at the shrine, the largest church in the U.S., as it hosts pilgrims from dioceses around the country who will be attending the annual national prayer vigil for life.

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