Bishop-elect O’Donnell says farewell to his Omaha parishioners

This article first appeared in The Catholic Missourian on Oct. 2, 2025, and is reprinted with permission.

Five years and 10 months ago, Archbishop George J. Lucas addressed the people of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Omaha, Nebraska.

He was there to install Father — now Bishop-elect — Ralph B. O’Donnell as pastor and to witness his profession of faith and oath of fidelity.

It was Gaudete Sunday, 10 days before Christmas, but the archbishop highlighted a different Gospel reference than the one proclaimed that morning.

“I’m going to preach on Lazarus, the beggar who sat at the foot of the rich man’s table,” the archbishop told the people.

In that parable from Luke 16, Jesus tells of a man who wears the finest clothes and enjoys the finest food, oblivious to the poor man before him, covered with sores and longing to eat the scraps from the table.

After death, the poor man is taken up into the arms of Abraham, while the rich man embarks on an eternity of inescapable torment.

Bishop-elect O’Donnell recalled Archbishop Lucas reminding the people of St. Margaret Mary that their beautiful church’s front doors open up into the heart of the city.

“And he went on to challenge me as pastor and our community in that moment to recognize the poor at our door, to see Christ present in our brothers and sisters in particular need,” Bishop-elect O’Donnell recalled on Sept. 28.

It was the bishop-elect’s last Sunday Mass in St. Margaret Mary Church before his installation as the fifth bishop of Jefferson City on Oct. 28.

“Today marks the last time I preside in this beautiful church as your pastor,” he stated. “It has been my privilege to be your parish priest. Please keep me in your prayers and be assured of mine for you.”

The Gospel reading happened to be the very same parable that Archbishop Lucas had preached on when Bishop-elect O’Donnell arrived at the parish nearly six years previously.

The message is ever-new and ever-relevant.

“We’re all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,” Bishop-elect O’Donnell declared. “What we do and what we say has the POWER of making Christ present in the world today.

“In God’s plan, in his providence, he allows you and me, the baptized, to participate as the Body of Christ in time: the Church,” the bishop-elect stated.

He pointed out that 74 people are taking part in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults at the parish this fall — seeking full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter.

“That is outstanding, brothers and sisters! Outstanding!” he stated. “That means that when these doors open and we go out from these Sacred Mysteries, we go forth as witnesses of faith and we talk about our experience with the Lord.

“When we care for one another, when we put our discipleship into practice, when we act as a just employer or a dedicated employee, those who encounter us see Christ living within us, and they experience St. Margaret Mary Parish by our actions,” he said.

“And we engage them in conversations and invite them to come and meet the Lord,” he continued. “That’s our job. God has GIVEN us that job.”

Referring back to the parable, Bishop-elect O’Donnell called to mind how the rich man “dressed in purple and fine linens.”

Hearing that proclaimed at Mass makes the bishop-elect a little self-conscious.

“Because the priest is always dressed in finery at Mass!” he said, opening his arms to draw attention to the vestments he was wearing.

“He does so because he is standing ‘in persona Christi’ — ‘in the person of Christ’ — symbolized by the chasuble, a sign of the Lord’s charity draping over the priest’s shoulders, so that Christ may reign supreme, and from this altar feed us.”

The bishop-elect called to mind a phrase his grandmother would use whenever one of the grandchildren would be gloating over something he or she had received or achieved.

“Your reward is now,” she would say with a look that indicated that our attitude was less than what God would want from us.

“She was telling us that whatever we had was meant to be shared or used for the good of others, mindful of our relationship to one another,” he said. “If we were gloating, we weren’t being Christ-like.”

It’s a matter of priorities.

He continued: “It isn’t wrong to have wealth or abundance, it is wrong to see it as something given outside of our relationship to God, who is the giver of all good gifts and to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

“We are to share what we have with others,” he insisted. “Christ gives of himself in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and he wants us to bring that gift to others. We are meant to see our responsibility to share our life in Christ.”

It will be six years on Dec. 15 since then-Archbishop Lucas stood at that pulpit and encouraged the people of St. Margaret Mary Parish to “see the poor at our door.”

“Praised be Jesus Christ, we’re doing it!” said Bishop-elect O’Donnell. “Let’s continue, to the glory of God the Father!”

The people stood up and applauded.

Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell greets a young parishioner after Mass in Omaha, Nebraska. PHOTO JAY NIES

Once entrusted

After Holy Communion, Deacon Michael Conzett, who assisted at the Mass, led the people in praying a blessing over their departing priest:

“Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of Bishop-elect Ralph O’Donnell as our pastor these past six years. You have called him to shepherd the people of the Diocese of Jefferson City as their fifth bishop.

“As we now go our separate ways, we ask you to fill him with wisdom, courage and compassion as he prepares to take on this sacred responsibility.

“Grant him the grace to lead with humility, to teach with clarity and to serve with love. May he be a faithful steward of your word and a tireless advocate for justice, mercy and peace.

“Bless him with strength in times of challenge, joy in his ministry, and the support of those he serves. Guide him always by the light of the Holy Spirit, so that he may reflect your love and build up your Church.”

Deacon Michael Conzett leads parishioners in praying a blessing over Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell. PHOTO BY JAY NIES

Hugs, laughs, babies and tears were plentiful as the pastor greeted the faithful outside after Mass.

“I hate to cry in church,” a parishioner who lives nearby told the bishop-elect.

“I like your hat!” said a little girl, noticing the purple zucchetto he began wearing at Mass upon his appointment as a bishop.

“I pray for you guys every day!” Bishop-elect O’Donnell told a family. “Once I’m entrusted with a soul, I never stop!”

“Pray for me and the people of Jefferson City,” he told a parishioner. “Thank you for being such a good witness. Keep being a good witness.”

He said to some young people: “When the new pastor comes, take care of him, and the Holy Spirit will take good care of you.”

Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell imparts a blessing on a family after the last Sunday Mass he celebrated as pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Omaha, Nebraska, on Sept. 28. He will be installed as the fifth bishop of Jefferson City on Oct. 28. PHOTO JAY NIES

He told one person that he’s looking forward to coming back when the archbishop rededicates the altar after the future restoration of the church building is completed.

“And I’ll be wearing a pointy hat!” he said.

“Keep up the good work,” he told some others. “Stay involved, and remember that God’s generosity won’t be outdone.”

Circle unbroken

That afternoon, Bishop-elect O’Donnell traveled about four miles to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the parish where he had grown up and spent countless Sunday mornings.

It was time for the parish’s massive fall festival.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a man announced over the public-address system in the churchyard, “from all the way down the street, Bishop-elect O’Donnell!

“Our very own Our Lady of Lourdes bishop — he’s one of our own,” the announcer continued. “We’re proud of him, folks!”

The man with the microphone was Larry Eckley, the youngest brother of two of Bishop-elect O’Donnell’s good neighborhood friends.

“You guys are getting a gem!” Mr. Eckley said to the people of this diocese. “A gem of a person. I hope you enjoy him as much as we have.”

Everywhere the future bishop turned at the festival, friends and familiar faces were there.

He grew up in a house located just behind the rectory, in a neighborhood overflowing with families.

“We had 10 kids in our family, and we were average in this neighborhood,” said Patrick O’Donnell, one of the bishop-elect’s older brothers, and his Confirmation sponsor.

“The O’Neills had 15, the Lampes had 12, the Moores had 13, the Rasmussens had 11, the Wolfs had 11, give or take,” he stated.

“So, there was a lot of that family orientation in the whole culture of this neighborhood,” he said.

That’s the type of mindset he’s convinced the bishop-elect brings with him to central and northeastern Missouri.

“It’s a traditional Catholic mindset that we always prayed would remain,” said Patrick. “But, as you know, it’s tougher and tougher to stay on top of.”

Their mother, Janie O’Donnell, is 93.

Their father, Terrance O’Donnell, died before the bishop-elect turned 2.

Patrick recognizes aspects of both parents in “Ralph,” the youngest of the 10.

“I was 9 when my father died,” said Patrick. “But I saw it myself, and of course, my aunts and my uncles would tell me that Terrance O’Donnell was a very loving and caring man.

“To use a cliché, he’d give you the shirt off his back, even if he didn’t have a shirt,” Patrick continued. “And I think that mindset and spirit of service resonates over the generations, and Ralph certainly has it.”

Patrick said their mother is “the most caring human, the most prayerful person I’ve ever known.”

“And I really believe that Ralph is very prayerful,” he said. “And that’s what you have to be first. You have to pray before you start solving all the problems.

“My Mom is living proof of the need and the real vocation for being prayerful,” Patrick continued. “She does that and will do that until the day she goes to God.”

Accentuate the positive

Jeanne and Elaine Heaston, two sisters who were raised in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, saw Bishop-elect O’Donnell grow up in their neighborhood.

“All of those kids over on 33rd Street — all of them are great kids,” said Jeanne. “But when Ralph was discerning to be a priest and was working here with Msgr. Furlong, he was always just funny, because he’s so exuberant.

“Ralph’s always positive, always happy,” she continued. “I never saw where he was negative.”

She doesn’t expect that to change when he becomes a bishop.

“Because in becoming a priest and becoming a pastor, he always stayed the same kind of guy,” she said. “Very approachable, very upbeat, very committed to being a priest.”

“He’s going to face some challenges, like every bishop does,” Elaine pointed out. “But I know he’s up for it, and it’s going to be okay.”

“Smile and strength”

Our Lady of Lourdes parishioner Betty Eckley has known Bishop-elect O’Donnell his whole life.

“As you can see, we’re thrilled, thrilled, thrilled for Fr. Ralph!” she said. “We’re so proud of him, but we’re not surprised. He grew up to be who he’s meant to be. It started when he was very young. And I believe it was sustained by his Mom and her constant prayers.”

Betty Eckley greets Bishop-elect O’Donnell, whom she has known for his entire life. PHOTO JAY NIES

Mrs. Eckley’s daughter, Kelly Eckley Barton, was Bishop-elect O’Donnell’s classmate and friend starting from their kindergarten year all through grade school.

Mrs. Eckley’s oldest son, Father Michael Eckley, is now a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha and one of Bishop-elect O’Donnell’s dearest friends in the Priesthood.

“I could tell in the beginning, when Fr. Ralph was out east, that he was going to be a bishop,” Mrs. Eckley recalled. “I just had that feeling about him. He rejoices in his vocation, and all of us rejoice with him.”

She traces Bishop-elect O’Donnell’s pursuit of his priestly calling back to his mother’s prayers.

“I tell you, it was with a Mom who constantly prayed. That’s the biggest thing,” she said.

Mrs. Eckley said that as a child, young Ralph “always had such a sweetness about him.”

“He was very fun, very funny, but very kind,” she said.

Kelly, her daughter, passed away in 2019.

“I know she prays for him, for all of us,” said Mrs. Eckley. “She was too young when she passed. But I know she’s pulling strings up there for all of us.”

Mrs. Eckley believes a hearty “thank you” to God is a great place to begin praying for the bishop-elect.

“Because Fr. Ralph is such a good guy,” she said. “And so loving, and he’s so encompassing, and he’s always there with a smile and a strength.”

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