WASHINGTON—Father Ralph B. O’Donnell has been appointed executive director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The appointment is effective July 1. Father O’Donnell, 45, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska, and has served as associate director of the secretariat since the beginning of the year. He succeeds Father W. Shawn McKnight, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, who has served as executive director since 2010.

“Father O’Donnell brings a wonderful blend of experience to the work of supporting clergy and religious life, from his service as a pastor to his work in vocations, the permanent diaconate and seminary formation. This will be a great benefit to the Conference, especially as the Church observes a year dedicated to the gifts of men and women religious,” said Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, USCCB general secretary, who made the appointment.

Father O’Donnell holds a bachelor’s degree in religion from Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri (1993), a master’s of divinity from St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois (1997) and a master’s in spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha (2000). He was ordained on June 7, 1997. After ordination, he has served as associate pastor of Mary Our Queen Parish (1997-2001) and St. Vincent de Paul Parish (2001-2003) in Omaha, chaplain of the Omaha chapter of Legatus (2001-2011), vocation director for the Archdiocese of Omaha (2003-2008), pastor of St. Bridget and St. Rose Parishes in Omaha (2008-2011), director of the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Omaha (2008-2011), vice rector/dean of students for Conception Seminary College (2011-2015).

The USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations assists the bishops in promoting, supporting and educating about the Church’s pastoral needs and concerns for the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life. The committee, which is curre…

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops