Blog

May 29, 2023: "These brave men and women died for a vision of the world — that is a world of freedom and peace. They gave their lives to defend the truths that our great nation holds to be self-evident. The truth that all men and women are created equal. The truth that we are all children of one God, endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights — to life, to liberty and to the pursuit of happiness."

May 28, 2023: "The fire that started at Pentecost is meant to keep burning in us! We are called to continue the work of Pentecost in our society. We are called to proclaim the mighty works of God — his salvation and the good news — to everyone we meet. Just as Mary our Blessed Mother and the apostles did at the first Pentecost."

May 14, 2023: "Jesus wants such a close relationship with each one of us, he wants to live in our hearts. St. Paul used to say, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” That is the friendship that Jesus wants for you, and for me, and for every person!"

May 7, 2023: "Jesus is telling us today is that faith in him is the key that opens every door. We need to make him the way for our life, as we know. We need to live for Jesus and live our lives according to his plan, his teachings. And we can totally trust in his promises, because we are walking with him."

April 20, 2023: "Mayor Riordan was a devoted public servant, a generous philanthropist, a wise civic leader, and a fine Christian gentleman, who worked hard to make life better for those he served, especially for the poorest Angelenos."

April 16, 2023: "And as we know, the Church calls this second Sunday after Easter “Divine Mercy Sunday,” I mentioned at the beginning of Mass, too. That is because in his great mercy, God has given us that new beginning, that “new birth,” that St. Peter talks about. This is the promise of Easter, the promise of the Resurrection."

April 9, 2023: "From this empty tomb, we can walk now in Jesus’ footsteps, following the risen Lord, living with him in friendship. Our whole life becomes a beautiful adventure with him. A beautiful adventure that is destined for heaven, for the love that never ends."

April 7, 2023: "On the cross, Jesus bears every burden for us — every evil and every sin, every sickness and suffering, every sorrow. He becomes weak, so we can overcome our weakness. He is crushed for our sins, so we can overcome our own sinfulness."

April 3, 2023: "Each year, the Chrism Mass is a liturgy of renewal. Not only for priests, but for every one of us in the Church. Tonight we renew our identity as Catholics, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, and as sons and daughters in the family of God, his Church."

April 2, 2023: "Today we begin Holy Week — the most holy week in the liturgy of the Church. What we have just heard in today’s passage from the Gospel, is the story of our salvation. The salvation of the human race. But it’s also a story that is personal for each one of us, it’s the story of our own salvation."

March 19, 2023: "As I was saying, today is “Laetare Sunday,” the Sunday of joy. On this fourth Sunday in our Lenten journey, the Church calls us to contemplate the joy that will be ours on Easter Sunday. On Easter, the tears of mourning and grief are wiped away, life and light triumph over darkness and death."

March 3, 2023: "We pray that as Bishop Dave walked with Jesus and served him with his life, now in death may he share in the fullness of his resurrection, in the love that never ends."

March 1, 2023: "As we know, Bishop Dave loved and served Jesus with all his heart and all his strength, and like Jesus, he loved his brothers and sisters “to the end,” with a special love for those who are often forgotten and those who live on society’s margins."

February 26, 2023: "And on this first Sunday of Lent, our readings set before us the whole human history, the beautiful narrative of salvation — from the first man and woman to the “last Adam” — the “new man” in whom we are given the power to become children of God and a new creation."

February 23, 2023: "In the first reading we just heard, we heard the ancient words of Moses. And then he tells us: “Choose life!” This is what God wants for each one of us. Life in all its fullness and richness. Life, and life abundant, Jesus said. God wants us, each one of us, to have a beautiful life. God wants you to have a blessed life, a life filled with love, and family, and friends."

February 22, 2023: "Bishop Dave was a man who loved Jesus Christ, and he gave his whole life to following Jesus, to being his friend, and to helping others to find Jesus. This is what we are all looking for. We all are looking for that. We are all born with the desire to be happy, the desire to find love and joy and the meaning of our lives. And the truth is — only when we meet Jesus do we find the happiness that we are looking for. Bishop Dave knew this truth. And he wanted everyone to know this truth, too. And he showed us how beautiful life can be, when we love Jesus and live for him."

February 20, 2023: "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."

February 19, 2023: "That is who Bishop Dave was. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a beautiful devotion to Mary, our Blessed Mother. We all miss him very much. May he rest in peace."

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."

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."