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CV NEWS FEED // To mark the second anniversary of Bishop David G. O’Connell’s passing, Archbishop José H. Gomez will celebrate a special Mass and bless a newly created memorial garden in his honor Feb. 9 at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in the South Los Angeles neighborhood.
Bishop O’Connell, a beloved member of the Los Angeles Catholic community, was murdered Feb. 18, 2023, CatholicVote reported.
According to a news release from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the memorial will begin at 12:15 p.m. with a procession honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, a devotion that held deep significance for Bishop O’Connell.
The Mass, presided over by Archbishop Gomez, will start at 12:30 p.m., followed by the blessing of the Bishop David O’Connell Memorial Garden. Joining the Archbishop will be Fathers Christopher Felix, parish administrator, and Roberto Raygoza, associate priest.
Bishop O’Connell, fondly known as “Bishop Dave,” served communities in Los Angeles’ inner city for more than 40 years, according to the news release from the Archdiocese.
A native of Ireland, he was ordained in 1979 after studying for the priesthood at All Hallows College in Dublin. His ministry led him to serve at multiple parishes in South Los Angeles, including St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Ascension, St. Eugene, and St. Michael. From 1988 to 2003, he was pastor at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish.
During Bishop O’Connell’s memorial Mass, his longtime friend Monsignor Timothy Dyer urged the congregation to seek his intercession in praying for an end to violence, homelessness, and crime, particularly in Los Angeles, CatholicVote reported.
The procession, Mass and memorial garden blessing will be livestreamed here.
