Meet Father Mark O'Donnell, Pastor
Father Mark D. O’Donnell is a Connecticut native, one of six children born to the late Mary and John O’Donnell. His calling to the priesthood was inspired by the good priests of St. Joseph Church, Chester, CT, who made many visits to his home for dinner and prayer.
Father Mark graduated from Xavier High School in 1977. In September of 1977 he attended St. Joseph College in Maine and while there he discerned a vocation to the priesthood. In 1978 he was accepted by the Diocese of Norwich and entered St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1981 from the University of Hartford, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and Masters of Divinity in 1985 from St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland. Through the Catholic Leadership Institute he participated in a four year program of Continuing Formation and Education called Good Leaders Good Shepherds.
Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut on May 25, 1985 in the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Father Mark’s first assignment was to St. John Church in Cromwell as a parochial vicar (1985-1989). Since then, he has served as chaplain and teacher at St. Bernard High School in Uncasville (1989-1996), Director of Vocations for Promotion and Development (1996-2007), Pastor of St. Agnes Church in Niantic (2007-2012), Pastor of St. Joseph Church in New London and Our Lady of Grace Fishers Island, New York (2012-present), Pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in New London (2016-present) and Pastor of St. Paul Church in Waterford (2018-present).
In addition to his assignments, Father Mark has been extensively involved in the formation and education of the clergy. He has served as Associate Director of Vocations for Promotion and Development for the diocese, Chairman of the Continuing Education and Formation Commission for the Clergy, interviewer for the Diaconate and Deacon Formation Advisory Board, board member for the National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy, and board member and vice president of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.
Father Mark has served on many boards and councils over the years. He was on the Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Commission for the Diocese for 14 years seeking collaborative efforts for greater dialogue, understanding, shared worship while seeking common ground for greater unity among the faith communities in Eastern Connecticut.
As an author, Father Mark has been published in Seminary Journal, Mentoring in the Annual Vocation Journal, and the Four County Catholic newspaper. For 10 years, he also wrote a monthly column in Four County Catholic. In addition to his writing, Father Mark over a period of four years produced and directed 36 programs on cable television entitled: “Ordinary People/Extraordinary Lives”.
Father Mark’s service to the Church and community has included a missionary trip of young people from St. Bernard High School to Haiti, chaplain for 58 young people from the Norwich Diocese at World Youth Day 2000 in Rome, and two pilgrimages to Israel. Recently, he was commissioned as a Police Chaplain for the New London Police Department.
Father Mark finds enjoyment in his hobbies. He is an avid fisherman, a beekeeper, a kayaker, loves gardening, and plays: guitar, bodhran, bones and tin whistle for an Irish Band he began in 1981 called “The Blarney Stones”. He also enjoys travelling and has visited over 20 countries around the world. He also has a beloved Kerry Blue Terrier named Brendan.
Father Mark graduated from Xavier High School in 1977. In September of 1977 he attended St. Joseph College in Maine and while there he discerned a vocation to the priesthood. In 1978 he was accepted by the Diocese of Norwich and entered St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1981 from the University of Hartford, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and Masters of Divinity in 1985 from St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland. Through the Catholic Leadership Institute he participated in a four year program of Continuing Formation and Education called Good Leaders Good Shepherds.
Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut on May 25, 1985 in the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Father Mark’s first assignment was to St. John Church in Cromwell as a parochial vicar (1985-1989). Since then, he has served as chaplain and teacher at St. Bernard High School in Uncasville (1989-1996), Director of Vocations for Promotion and Development (1996-2007), Pastor of St. Agnes Church in Niantic (2007-2012), Pastor of St. Joseph Church in New London and Our Lady of Grace Fishers Island, New York (2012-present), Pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in New London (2016-present) and Pastor of St. Paul Church in Waterford (2018-present).
In addition to his assignments, Father Mark has been extensively involved in the formation and education of the clergy. He has served as Associate Director of Vocations for Promotion and Development for the diocese, Chairman of the Continuing Education and Formation Commission for the Clergy, interviewer for the Diaconate and Deacon Formation Advisory Board, board member for the National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy, and board member and vice president of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.
Father Mark has served on many boards and councils over the years. He was on the Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Commission for the Diocese for 14 years seeking collaborative efforts for greater dialogue, understanding, shared worship while seeking common ground for greater unity among the faith communities in Eastern Connecticut.
As an author, Father Mark has been published in Seminary Journal, Mentoring in the Annual Vocation Journal, and the Four County Catholic newspaper. For 10 years, he also wrote a monthly column in Four County Catholic. In addition to his writing, Father Mark over a period of four years produced and directed 36 programs on cable television entitled: “Ordinary People/Extraordinary Lives”.
Father Mark’s service to the Church and community has included a missionary trip of young people from St. Bernard High School to Haiti, chaplain for 58 young people from the Norwich Diocese at World Youth Day 2000 in Rome, and two pilgrimages to Israel. Recently, he was commissioned as a Police Chaplain for the New London Police Department.
Father Mark finds enjoyment in his hobbies. He is an avid fisherman, a beekeeper, a kayaker, loves gardening, and plays: guitar, bodhran, bones and tin whistle for an Irish Band he began in 1981 called “The Blarney Stones”. He also enjoys travelling and has visited over 20 countries around the world. He also has a beloved Kerry Blue Terrier named Brendan.