A Hail Mary for Bishop Dave

One year since the death of Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell, the shock over his murder has largely worn off, the tributes have died down, and the billboards that briefly lit up Los Angeles freeways flashing his smiling face are gone.

Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell 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.

The Mass, the first of three farewell liturgies for O’Connell, was presided by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez at the parish O’Connell called home since becoming auxiliary bishop for the San Gabriel Pastoral Region in 2015.

The White House press secretary expressed condolences on behalf of President Joe Biden for the death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell on Wednesday.

The 2017 video shows how Bishop O'Connell's childhood, seminary days, and time in South Central LA shaped his ministry.