Pensacola Pastor Named Auxiliary Bishop Of Washington; Resignation Of Auxiliary Bishop Leonard Olivier Accepted
WASHINGTON (May 18, 2004) -- Pope John Paul II has appointed Father Martin Holley, pastor of Little Flower Church, Pensacola, Florida, as Titular Bishop of Rusubisir and Auxiliary Bishop of Washington.
At the same time the Pope accepted the resignation of Washington Auxiliary Bishop Leonard J. Olivier, S.V.D.
Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcements.
Martin Holley was born on December 31, 1954, in Pensacola, Florida.
He attended Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, specializing in administration. From 1977 to 1982 he worked in the diocesan chancery in Pensacola-Tallahassee. He studied Theology at the Catholic University of America and at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree.
Father Holley was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee on May 8, 1987.
Since ordination, he has held both pastoral and administrative assignments. Father Holley has been spiritual director of the Serra Club of West Florida, director of the Diocesan Department of Ethnic Concerns, a member of the diocesan commission for education, and spiritual director of the Permanent Diaconate formation program.
Bishop-designate Holley has been pastor of Little Flower parish, Pensacola, since 2000. He has also been Adjunct Director of Vocations and President of the Presbyteral Council.
Leonard J. Olivier was born October 12, 1923, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended St. Augustine's Seminary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1951. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Legia and Auxiliary Bishop of Washington on November 10, 1988.