Cork's ‘Bishop Dave’ remembered as a 'beautiful man with a shepherd's heart' at anniversary mass 

A Cork born Bishop of Los Angeles who was murdered a year ago has been remembered at an anniversary mass as being a special person who “embraced immigrants, the poor, the marginalised, gang bangers, the ill, the drunk and homeless and those considered lost and forgotten.”

Bishop David O’Connell of Glanmire in Co Cork was found dead on February 18, 2023.

A church deacon who went to his home in Hacienda Heights, about 30km east of downtown LA, after he failed to turn up for a meeting, made the grim discovery. The 69-year-old had been shot dead.

Admired

‘Bishop Dave’, as he was affectionately known, was much admired for his peace making efforts during the LA riots in 1992. The late Bishop was also an advocate for immigrants.

Fr Tony Astudillo paid tribute to Bishop O’Connell at a memorial mass in St Lorenzo Ruiz church, in Walnut, in California, over the weekend.

Fr Astudillo said that the late Bishop was an extraordinary advocate for social and racial justice.

“This man of the cloth also fought against gun violence. When six people were killed in a month in his parish neighbourhood, he mobilised nine thousand families not just to pray but to take action. Yet gun violence ultimately stole him away from the community.”

He said that fact that such a peaceful man lost his life in a violent act was “almost impossible to conceive”.

“He used public ministry to advocate for social and racial justice. The pain [of his loss] is [still] palpable among those who knew and loved him.”

Missed

Meanwhile, LA Archbishop José Gómez told a Catholic event over the weekend that Bishop O’Connell was very much missed in the Diocese.

“He was a beautiful man, with a shepherd’s heart. I know he is looking down on us this weekend from heaven, and he is smiling. I know he is praying for all of us and the work we do to share the love of Jesus in our world today.”

A second mass in memory of Bishop O’Connell will be held next Saturday at the San Gabriel Mission, in San Gabriel, California.

Following his death, three days of remembrance took place in Los Angeles which culminated in a funeral mass attended by nearly 5,000 people at the Cathedral of the Our Lady of the Angels. His remains were interred in a crypt in the Cathedral.

An exhibit honouring the life and legacy of Bishop O’Connell was subsequently opened at the Cathedral.

Pope Francis appointed David O’Connell Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angles in June of 2015.

He studied for the priesthood at the former All Hallows College in Dublin before he was ordained to serve in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979.

A handyman in his 60s was previously charged with the murder of Bishop O’Connell. Carlos Medina of Torrance in LA County previously pleaded not guilty to one felony count of murder.

He was arraigned at Foltz Criminal Justice Centre in downtown LA in February of last year.

He has also been charged with with allegedly using a firearm during the commission of an offence.

If convicted he faces 35 years to life in prison. He will appear before a Los Angeles court again next month.