Ralph Bernard O'Donnell

Contents

Ralph Bernard O'Donnell (born August 31, 1969) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who serves as bishop for the Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri.[1]

Biography

Early life

Ralph O'Donnell was born on August 31, 1969, in Omaha, Nebraska. He entered Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, in 1989. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion in 1993, he continued his studies at the Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. O'Donnell was awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 1997.

Priesthood

On June 7, 1997, O'Donnell was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Omaha at Saint Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha by Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss.[2] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned O'Donnell as associate pastor at Mary Our Queen Parish in Omaha. He was transferred in 2001 to St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Omaha.[1]

O'Donnell left St. Vincent in 2003 to serve as director of vocations for the archdiocese. he was named pastor of St. Brigid and St. Rose Parishes in Omaha in 2008, along with director of the permanent diaconate program. The archdiocese named O'Donnell as vice rector and dean or formation at Conception Seminary College in 2011. He left Conception in 2015 to serve in Washington, D.C. as executive director for the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). O'Donnell returned to Omaha in 2019 with his appointment as pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish.[1]

Bishop of Jefferson City

Pope Leo XIV appointed O'Donnell as bishop of Jefferson City on August 19, 2025.[3][4][5] On October 28, 2025, O'Donnell was consecrated as a bishop.[6]

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded byWilliam Shawn McKnightBishop of Jefferson City 2025-PresentSucceeded byIncumbent

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3]"Pope Leo XIV Appoints Reverend Ralph O'Donnell as Bishop of Jefferson City | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  2. 2."Father Ralph Bernard O'Donnell [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  3. 3."Resignations and Appointments, 19.08.2025". Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  4. 4."Pope Leo XIV Appoints Reverend Ralph O'Donnell as Bishop of Jefferson City". Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  5. 5."Pope appoints new bishop for Diocese of Jefferson City". Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  6. 6."Bishop-Elect | Diocese of Jefferson City". diojeffcity.org. 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2025-08-27.