Since the death of Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles David O’Connell became known, the Catholic community, political leaders, officials, and people at the local, state, and national levels have mourned his death unceasingly. a man they call “a friend of the immigrant people, an ally of the youth and above all a man of faith.”
“The most beautiful thing about the bishop is that he had the gift of being with people, he knew how to love his neighbour, whatever the situation or the things one was going through,” said said Isaac Cuevas, of the Office of Immigration Affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
O’Connell is remembered for many works he did in different areas of Los Angeles County where he served the diocese for over 45 years. O’Connell was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1953, and was named auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope Francis in 2015, according to the archdiocese.
During this time, O’Connell worked in South Los Angeles, where he focused on gang intervention. He also helped broker peace between residents and law enforcement in the wake of violence that erupted in 1992 after a jury acquitted four white Los Angeles police officers of the beating of Rodney King, a black man.
O’Connell also helped rally the San Gabriel Valley community to rebuild a mission destroyed in an arson attack, according to Angelus News, the news outlet for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
HE DEFENDED FOR IMMIGRANTS
The 69-year-old auxiliary bishop has spearheaded Catholic efforts in the region to work with immigrant children and families, helping dozens of children who have entered this country unaccompanied by adults.
“When the (immigrant) children arrived in Los Angeles, they created a refuge in the Pomona Fairplex, Bishop David was the first to say, ‘I will, I will be present with them’, the pride of giving mass with those children who welcomed him with open arms,” Cuevas said, adding that the O’Connell was part of a special task force for a foundation that helps immigrants receive information and provide resources.
EVERYONE’S FRIEND
Meeting Bishop O’Connell, people knew he had an incredible sense of humor, always finding a little humor in anything, but he also had a passion for social justice, for standing with people who had no voice.
“He wanted to empower us to act in things and situations where, as lay people, it is our responsibility to support those in need,” Cuevas said.
A day after the suspect in the Bishop’s shooting at his Hacienda Heights home came forward, the Los Angeles County Supervisor ordered flags to be flown at half-mast across the county in the Bishop’s honor auxiliary.
“He dedicated himself to supporting immigrants, not only making sure they had food and shelter, but even helping immigrant children, unaccompanied minors get into Catholic schools and helped them to enter university. His heart had no limits,” Hahn said at Monday’s press conference.
Carlos Medina, 65, is the suspect in shooting the bishop at his home over the weekend. Medina is the husband of the O’Connells’ housekeeper and, in the past, he is said to have worked at the house in Haciendo Heights where the Bishop lived.
“It is unthinkable that his life would have come to such a tragic end,” Hahn said.
“The legacy will continue, we continue to support all immigrants, the homeless, this is what the bishop would have wanted and we continue with this in our daily work,” Cuevas said.