He was a friend of souls. He is also survived by nieces and nephews. Weve been forced to draw back from each other. The suspect had been at the bishops house before, doing work, Sheriff Luna said. David did soul work. Around 11 a.m., the mourners stood as dozens of church leaders proceeded to the cathedrals altar. Because immediately what came into my heart, my mind, was the memory of when I used to go home to Ireland when my mother was alive, and she would be waiting there at the gate for me, he said. Gartland said that she was impressed by how well organized the viewing was, allowing everyone to go up to see OConnell and say goodbye. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Archbishop Jos Gomez holds a Vigil Mass for Bishop David OConnell at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. During Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels the next day, Archbishop Gomez announced that the LA County Sheriffs Department had confirmed to the archdiocese earlier that morning that investigators had ruled his death a homicide. David O'Connell He later described his role in the rebuilding of the historic church as one of support and encouragement.. As a pastor, OConnell also saw firsthand the effect of broken families on the community. Father Robert Young, his friend from his secondary school days, remembered him as a very bright and capable student who was warm and sincere. In his role as episcopal vicar for the archdioceses San Gabriel Pastoral Region, it fell to OConnell to accompany the parish community of Mission San Gabriel, the oldest Catholic outpost in the archdiocese, when it was almost completely destroyed in an arson attack in July 2020. On Friday, an 11 a.m. funeral service, also at the Cathedral, is expected to fill the massive sanctuary, where afterward, OConnell will be interred in the Cathedrals Mausoleum in a private service, officials said Thursday. pulling into the bishops driveway and then leaving a short time later, the sheriff said. But above all, the bishops funeral Mass attended by thousands on Friday morning, March 3, with an untold number watching via livestream reflected the spirit of a man who saw reverence in the prosaic. David Michael O'Connell, 64, passed away on September 25, 2017 after a battle with cancer. And its been a great privilege, a great blessing to be given these parishes all these years, to be pastor all these years. As a pastor, OConnell also saw firsthand the effect of broken families on the community. OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. No matter what the configuration of the family is, the call is still to adults to think about how to provide the best, most loving, faithful environment for children possible. The comments were made in a video associated with the Catholic World Meeting of Families event in Dublin and generated some controversy when they were edited from a later version of the video. March 3, 2023 6:44 PM PT. A mass for the late Bishop David OConnell is held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Bishop OConnell was also an advocate for immigrants. Mourners broached the entrance of the cathedral, nestled in the heart of Downtown L.A., early on Friday to be part of the communion to honor OConnell. ". He was the loving husband to Lynnette (Strople) O'Connell with whom he Folks lined the aisles and craned their necks from behind the pews, not wanting to miss a moment of the Mass or their chance to say goodbye to a man theyd called a friend. Reyes said that the large number of people attending the viewing on Thursday showed how many lives OConnell impacted. He was also a good friend, and I will miss him greatly, continued Archbishop Gomez, who asked for prayers for the bishop and his family in Ireland. 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Ron DeSantis to visit Orange County for GOP fundraiser, David O'Connell: Mass held for slain LA bishop, The Issue Is: NSC's John Kirby talks Ukraine, China and his own military service, Families asked to clear gas lines amid leaks happening across San Bernardino County homes, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, 'We need help': Stranded Lake Arrowhead residents plead for assistance amid food and medication shortages. There, OConnell ministered to a community afflicted by gang violence, poverty, broken families, as well as tensions between locals and members of the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA Sheriffs Department. The younger OConnell, as if speaking to the heavens, told his uncle he and everyone who knew the bishop was proud of him. At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. He helped so many, many unaccompanied minors and families with immigration, Jeff Hamilton, also a member of that task force, said in an interview after the service. OConnell was found shot at his Hacienda Heights home on February 18. And its been a great privilege, a great blessing to be given these parishes all these years, to be pastor all these years. Monsignor Jarlath Cunnane, a Sligo born friend of five decades to Bishop OConnell, delivered the homily at the Mass. Reyes said that Bishop OConnell ordained his class of new priests two years ago. DAVID O'CONNELL OBITUARY Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David G. OConnell, a native of Ireland who spent most of his four decades as a priest ministering in LAs inner city, has died. It was that spirit, Mahony said, that moved OConnell in inspired ways, from his now well-known efforts as a peacemaker during the 1992 riots in L.A. to his advocacy of immigrants to connecting with generations of young Catholics and priests. Cunnane, who is from Sligo, Ireland, closed his homily with an apt saying from his and OConnells shared homeland. He wrote on mens hearts and in the minds of young children sublime words words of forgiveness, words of healing, with simple words like, Jesus, I trust in you., But more than anything else and thats the source of all that friendship we should say was a friend of Jesus Christ and Mary, our blessed mother.. Catholics say final farewell to their friend, Bishop David OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. He was fatally shot in his home on Saturday. At the national level, OConnell was the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The Bishop introduced his nieces and nephews to all LA had to offer when they were young including Disneyland, Universal Studios and their favourite breakfast eatery, Dennys. They were always words of affirmation. When he was considering the priesthood, OConnell sought advice from a priest at the school, who recommended that he meet Tim Manning, a Los Angeles-based bishop who would become a cardinal. Throughout the day, visitors waited in lines that stretched outside the Cathedral for the chance to approach and walk by OConnells body, which lay in an open casket. Why are womens bodies under attack from autoimmune diseases? OConnell, who was known as Bishop Dave, served the San Gabriel Pastoral Region of the archdiocese, which covers East Los Angeles through the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. OConnell then began serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and held many different positions during his priesthood, in which he ministered to immigrants and those affected by both gang violence and poverty. On Saturday, parishioners gathered at the scene of O'Connell's death and lit candles in memory of the religious leader, Los Angeles Daily News reporter Clara Harter tweeted. David OConnell, an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, leading a memorial service in 2020. The wound wont be easily healed. Jay Cunnane, said during the homily, allowed David to see God in the bits and pieces of every day a smile here, a kiss again, and sometimes tears.. I am very sad this afternoon to report that our beloved Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell has passed away unexpectedly, said Archbishop Jos H. Gomez of Los Angeles in a statement Feb. 18 soon after receiving word of his death. OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. In his role as episcopal vicar for the archdioceses San Gabriel Pastoral Region, it fell to OConnell to accompany the parish community of Mission San Gabriel, the oldest Catholic outpost in the archdiocese, when it was almost completely destroyed in an. But grateful to God for having had all those years a good friend to walk the road with, he said. He said that Mr. Medina had not been formally charged and that investigators were continuing to examine evidence, including two firearms seized from Mr. Medinas home, where he was arrested after a standoff. The people have touched my heart the way they are sincere., Murder investigation underway into Bishop OConnells death, Suspect arrested in murder of Bishop OConnell; motive still unclear, Mourners pray for healing, forgiveness amid shock of Bishop OConnells murder. David O'Connell: Funeral services announced for slain LA Bishop Pope Francis named him an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2015. He came home days later to find widespread destruction in much of his parishs territory. He is survived by his brother Kieran and extended family. Don Ball Obituary (1954 - 2023) | Provo, Utah I am so sorry that you will not be here for all the things that are to come in our lives at least not in person.. Ted Chen reports for the NBC4 News on Feb. 21, There is no known motive for the murder on February 18th. Obituary. (Photo by Dean Musgrove), People attend a public viewing for Bishop David OConnell at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. In 2015, Pope Francis named him an auxiliary bishop for the archdiocese. Father Jay Cunnane, pastor of St. Cornelius Parish in Long Beach, California, and a close friend to OConnell, told EWTN News Nightly that the bishop had a great heart for people on the margins of society, specifically immigrants and the poor.