The first of three days of funeral services for Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell begins Wednesday with a special service at Hacienda Heights.
This comes nearly two weeks after his murder and the arrest of the suspect.
Crowds are expected to turn out for O’Connell services as it has had a positive impact on the lives of many. One of those lives was that of Kaithlyn Luna, an immigrant whose life was changed by Bishop David.
“He was a man with a big heart. He loved helping. I think that was one of the main things in his life, being a priest, helping people, helping them without anything in return,” said Luna, who said his life had been changed by Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell.
This is how Luna spoke of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell with eyes that reflect the sadness in her heart for the death of a man who changed her life and helped her without even knowing her.
“I met him when I arrived in this country. My immigration attorney had a pretty close relationship with him, and that’s how I met him,” Luna said.
The Catholic community continues to be shocked by the murder of Bishop David O’Connell, 69.
Luna arrived alone from Nicaragua without the company of her parents at the age of 13 and dreamed of being in a Catholic school like in her native country.
“And she said to me, you know what? I can help you through someone and that someone was Father David and it was immediate. The same day she offered me to go to this school, that same day the father moved and allowed me to have an interview with the school principal that day. It was very quick, and the same day they signed me up and everything,” Luna said.
At the time, Father O’Connell not only helped him get into school, but he also helped pay for his tuition.
“Yes, because I wanted to. He loved to serve, serving people as much as serving God, and I think that was his way of life,” he said.
This is why what happened to the Auxiliary Bishop is inconceivable to her, and she does not understand how anyone could suffocate the life of such a good, generous and faith-filled man.
“Obviously it was terrible news that obviously chills you,” Luna said.
She invites Catholics today not only to pray for the soul of the auxiliary bishop, but for all those involved.
“And obviously also for the person who did it, because I’m sure the father would have done that. I think there was no room in his heart for a grudge, no matter what, he there would never be any hard feelings.”
With the help of Bishop Dave, as she was known, Kaithlyn is now studying criminology at the University of La Verne and dreams of being a police officer because she learned from the Auxiliary Bishop that a life lived for and for others is a life worth living. .. be experienced.