National shrine in Washington honors former rector

Published: 2007-01-09

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., who served for 25 years at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington before he was made a bishop, received the Patronal Medal of the shrine and The Catholic University of America Dec. 8. The medal was conferred during a Mass at the shrine, which sits adjacent to the campus of Catholic University. As a priest Bishop Bransfield began serving at the shrine in 1980 as assistant director and master of ceremonies. From 1982 to 1986 he was director of finance there. Then-Msgr. Bransfield was rector of the shrine from 1986 until he was named a bishop in December 2004. He is also an alumnus of the university, where he earned a master's degree in philosophy, and he currently serves on the boards of the shrine and the university. Vincentian Father David M. O'Connell, president of the university, said in presenting the medal, "It has often been said that no one ever did as much to promote the shrine as Msgr. Bransfield."

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