OGDENSBURG — An author of eight books who most recently was vice president for institutional advancement with Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been named the new rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Rev. Michael O’Donnell, Ph.D., who will be officially be welcomed at a Nov. 23 Installation Mass, was selected following a nationwide search.

O’Donnell will become the St. John's 22nd rector, replacing Rev. Robert J.D. Longbottom, resigned in January of this year.

In a prepared statement, the search committee said, “Father Michael brings a rich and varied experience of ministry, including a proven expertise in encouraging all Christians to develop their God-given talents to the benefit of St. John’s and the Ogdensburg community.”

A national, best-selling author, Father O’Donnell has written eight books and in 2012 he was selected as a Catholic Press Association Award-Winner for his monthly column, Family Matters in The Colorado Catholic Herald. In 2013 he was a co-recipient of a national Telly Award for excellence in video production.

“Reverend O’Donnell is energetically supported by his wife, Rachel, an elementary school principal, and both are thrilled to be moving to upper state New York and getting to know the community there," said the search committee's statement.

A graduate of Kansas State University with a Ph.D., The Reverend O’Donnell is a graduate of both Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and Cincinnati Christian Seminary in Ohio; and he has done post-graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey.

Reverend O’Donnell served for many years as vice president for Institutional Advancement with Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs and prior to that he was appointed by the Episcopal Bishop of Colorado to be Priest-in-Charge at Grace and St. Stephen’s Church, a cardinal parish in the Diocese.

St. John’s Church, 500 Franklin St., will hold the Installation Mass for O’Donnell Nov. 23 with a reception immediately following the service.