O'Connell was 69. His work as a community leader came to the fore again during the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020 when he carried the Blessed Sacrament to a high summit in the San Gabriel valley to pray for the community below. O'Connell, who had been a priest and then a bishop during his 45 years with the church, was found dead in a home Sunday in the unincorporated neighborhood of At the national level, OConnell was the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. That was part of our work as a Church, to try to provide spaces for conversations, he told CNA in a 2020 interview. He was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no signs of forced entry, and no weapon was found at the home, Sheriff Luna said. I'm still sort of stunned. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Clergy from throughout the Catholic Church attend the Funeral Mass for Bishop David OConnell at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, CA, Friday, March 3, 2023. He was fatally shot in his home on Saturday. When you have found an obituary of interest, you have the option of upgrading that obituary with more recent and relevant content unless the obituary is David O'Connell Obituary (Photo by Dean Musgrove), The entrance for the viewing for Bishop David OConnell at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, in Downtown Los Angeles, March 2, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Bishop David OConnells Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. He said Bishop OConnell was a kindly uncle who always had an encouraging word for them growing up. The suspect in the shooting, 61-year-old Carlos Medina, has been charged with the murder. Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David G. O'Connell, a native of Ireland who spent most of his four decades as a priest ministering in L.A.'s inner city, was found dead of a gunshot wound Feb. 18. 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. A police chase is underway involving a possible shooting suspect. It was solemn yet emotionally riotous. Obituary The Mass will be livestreamed here. The authorities surrounded Mr. Medinas home at about 2 a.m. and called on him to surrender, but he refused, Sheriff Luna said. (Photo by Dean Musgrove), Flowers at the entrance for the viewing for Bishop David OConnell at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, in Downtown Los Angeles, March 2, 2023. He always had a place in his heart for the underdog., He was ordained in June 1979 and returned to Glounthaune to say his first Mass in the Sacred Heart Church where he had been baptised almost 26 years earlier. Bishop OConnell funeral: Nearly 5,000 pack cathedral to honor his OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. Why are womens bodies under attack from autoimmune diseases? David R. O'Connell, 58, of Beverly died on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Beverly Hospital. Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell was remembered as a man gripped by grace and at ease with movers and shakers and also with the moved and shaken as nearly 5,000 attended a funeral Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Friday morning. 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.. It had poignancy and humor. He had previously served as a pastor at several parishes in Los Angeles, including St. Michaels and St. Frances X. Cabrini. But now I wouldnt, A sad day for republicans: Sinn Fin activist Rita OHare dies aged 80, Ukraine under increased pressure as Russian onslaught in Bakhmut continues, Who to fire? (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), A Vigil Mass for Bishop David OConnell is held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. He studied for the priesthood at All Hallows College in Dublin and was ordained in 1979, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said. Los Angeles county has the highest poverty rate in California and his work focused on helping marginalised people in communities affected by gang violence, drugs and poverty. OConnell was dressed in a white alb robe with the Virgin de Guadalupe in color on the front. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has announced the funeral arrangements for the late Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell, who was murdered in his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. As a former Catholic who had stopped going to Mass because of the sex abuse scandals, she approached the job with scepticism, but his energy and dedication to his community won her over. Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new details as they become available. The authorities said the man in custody was the husband of the bishops housekeeper. Medina is the husband of O'Connell's housekeeper, and he also performed handyman work at the bishop's home, authorities said. Carlos Medina, 61, was arrested around 8:15 a.m. Monday following an hours-long standoff at his home in the 2400 block of Kenwood Avenue in Torrance. 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(Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Monsignor Jarlath Cunnane delivers the homily for his long-time friend, Bishop David OConnell, at the Funeral Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, CA, Friday, March 3, 2023. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), The casket of Bishop David OConnell arrives at the Funeral Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, CA Friday, March 3, 2023. Even then, he had such a strong sense of fairness about him and a compassion for vulnerable people, he said. Hes left quite a big void in our community with all the work that he did and we all have to pick up where he left off in some small way, Hamilton said. You know, he was a beautiful witness, and I feel very blessed to have known him.. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced on Sunday that Los Angeles Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was killed and said it was working to find "those responsible" for his death. Husband of housekeeper arrested over fatal shooting of bishop in He said that they always joked about which was the better county his native Sligo or the Bishops beloved Co Cork. The authorities arrested a man on Monday in connection with the killing of David G. OConnell, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who was found fatally shot at his home on Saturday, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said. And now Cork man that he is has left without saying goodbye. "He was a peacemaker with a heart for the poor and the immigrant, and he had a passion for building a community where the sanctity and dignity of every human life was honored and protected," the archbishop added. David OConnell, nephew of Bishop David OConnell, speaks at the Funeral Mass for his uncle at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, CA, Friday, March 3, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Priests walk to the altar for Bishop David OConnells Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. I have heard from people in Peru and South Africa. Southern California Immigration Task Force. With other religious leaders, he brought police officers to meetings in peoples homes in an effort to improve relations. And its been a great privilege, a great blessing to be given these parishes all these years, to be pastor all these years. LA Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell dies unexpectedly at 69 Maybe it was the Irish brogue, or the dog he had adopted, or the fact that he saw prayer as activism and activism as prayer, she wrote after his death. pulling into the bishops driveway and then leaving a short time later, the sheriff said. It is a privilege to be part of peoples lives, especially in their time of suffering and need, he said, on learning he was to be elevated to auxiliary bishop in 2015. in journalism from the University of Southern California. He is survived by his brother Kieran and extended family. In contrast to recent days, often taken up with spoken words at prayers services and masses that mourned the pastor, the viewing was a quiet event, focused on the singular image of the bishops casket amid the vast open interior space of the Cathedral. He organised retreats to help men become better parents and partners, and believed in the power of parish communities and schools to transform peoples lives. 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But weeks of mourning and remembrances culminated in the Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in Downtown Los Angeles, ending three days of funeral farewells for the man lovingly called Bishop Dave., There was also a service on Wednesday at his home parish, St. John Vianney, in Hacienda Heights, followed by a viewing and vigil on Thursday. Joseph Bukuras is a staff writer at the Catholic News Agency. Bishop OConnell cared deeply for victims of social and racial injustice and spent most of his priesthood in South Central Los Angeles, Bishop Barron said. OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. In response to the report that O'Connell was killed, Los Angeles Archbishop Jos H. Gomez said, "We are deeply disturbed and saddened by this news.". The suspect in the shooting, 61-year-old Carlos Medina, has been charged with the murder. Mr OConnell thanked all those who had assisted in the police investigation following the murder of his uncle. Born in Springfield on February 20, 1935, he was a son of the late Thomas and Mary (Lacey) OConnell. Thousands more watched from the cathedrals plaza. On Sunday morning, detectives found surveillance footage that shows a dark-colored S.U.V. OConnell was found shot at his Hacienda Heights home on February 18. We need to rebuild the fabric of our relationships so we can be a hopeful world.. The first day of the funeral services this week was a memorial Mass at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights, a parish that OConnell would frequently attend. The suspect, Carlos Medina, 65, is married to Bishop OConnells housekeeper and had done work at the bishops house in Hacienda Heights, Calif., a suburban community in the San Gabriel Valley, Sheriff Robert G. Luna said at a news conference. The suspect in the shooting, 61-year-old Carlos Medina, has been charged with the murder. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), People attend 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. He made frequent visits to Ireland and liked to stress his Cork connections whenever possible. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news. March 3, 2023 6:44 PM PT. The church pews filled an hour before the Mass. We are heartbroken.. David Hall Obituary (1939 - 2020) | Orem, Utah He became a priest there in 1953. Born in 1953 in County Cork, Ireland, he was ordained a priest in 1979 in Dublin, Ireland. OConnells casket followed shortly after. Those who knew him testify that he seemed most at ease with the working people he spent all those years with in South LA. At the news conference, Jos H. Gomez, the archbishop of Los Angeles, thanked the authorities for taking a suspect into custody. OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. He was loved. Funeral Services Set for Slain Bishop David O'Connell (The) presence of Christ and deep prayer, the Rev. Bishop Dave O'Connell speaks at the Archdiocesan Eucharistic Congress Aug. 13, 2022. OConnell was shot and killed at his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. There is no known motive for the murder on February 18th. The community mourns the loss of Auxiliary Bishop David OConnell, who was found shot dead in Hacienda Heights. Well never make it up, but maybe we can make a dent.. He was 69. Born in County Cork, Ireland in 1953, OConnell studied for the priesthood at All Hallows College in Dublin and was ordained to serve in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG), Archbishop Gomez walks to the altar for Bishop David OConnells Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. We are sad to announce that on October 8, 2020 we had to say goodbye to David Hall of Orem, Utah, born in Price, Utah. He was also the chairman of the interdiocesan Southern California Immigration Task Force which helped coordinate the churchs response to immigrant children and families from Central America in recent years. Reyes said that the large number of people attending the viewing on Thursday showed how many lives OConnell impacted. 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.. He spoke to the soul. You are a good man, Man you are on fire, to quote just a few.. Bishop Robert Barron, a former auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who now serves in Minnesota, said he first met Bishop OConnell when they were appointed as bishops on the same day in September 2015.