Statements from Archbishop Gomez

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

Hall of Justice
Los Angeles, California
February 20, 2023

And I want to thank you all for being here, and especially for your concern for Bishop David O’Connell.

Bishop Dave was a good friend to Los Angeles.

Out of his love for God, he served this city for more than forty years, as an immigrant from Ireland. And I would say that among the many things that I admired in him in his life and ministry was that he was fluent in Spanish with an Irish accent.

Every day he worked to show compassion to the poor, to the homeless, to the immigrant, and to all those living on society’s margins.

He was a good priest and a good bishop, and a man of peace. And we are very sad to lose him.

I am very grateful to Sheriff Luna and to his investigative team for their hard work in bringing a suspect into custody.

So on behalf of the entire Catholic community, we want to express our gratitude for the Sheriff’s Office, for their professionalism and sensitivity in what is a sad and painful moment for all of us.

Thank you again for your concern and for your coverage.

And please, let us keep praying for Bishop Dave and his family. And let’s keep praying for our law enforcement officials as they continue their investigation. And let’s pray for our great city.

Thank you.

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles
February 19, 2023
We learned early this morning from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office that they have determined that the death of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell yesterday was a homicide. We are deeply disturbed and saddened by this news.
Let us continue to pray for Bishop Dave and his family. And let us pray for law enforcement officials as they continue their investigation into this terrible crime.
We ask Our Blessed Mother Mary to intercede and be a mother for all of us in this moment of sadness and pain.

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Statement on the Death of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

February 18, 2023

I am very sad this afternoon to report that our beloved Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell has passed away unexpectedly. It is a shock and I have no words to express my sadness.

As a priest and later a bishop here in Los Angeles for forty-five years, Bishop Dave was a man of deep prayer who had a great love for Our Blessed Mother. 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.

He was also a good friend, and I will miss him greatly. I know we all will. Please join me in praying for Bishop Dave and for his family in Ireland.  May Our Lady of Guadalupe wrap him in the mantle of her love, and may the angels lead him into paradise, and may he rest in peace.