Greeting: Memorial Mass for Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell

Most Reverend José H. Gomez                                      
Archbishop of Los Angeles

St. John Vianney Parish
March 1, 2023

My brothers and sisters,

I want to welcome you to the Memorial Mass for Bishop David O’Connell.

For the Christian, death is not the end, but a new beginning. The saints teach us that in the evening of our lives, we will be judged by our love.

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.¹

So as we begin this liturgy, I would like to share a message from the Holy Father Pope Francis signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin which was delivered to me earlier this week by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. It reads and I quote:

Deeply saddened to learn of the untimely and tragic death of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, His Holiness Pope Francis sends heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to you, the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese.

He joins you in giving thanks for Bishop O’Connell’s years of devoted priestly and episcopal ministry to the Church in Los Angeles, marked especially by his profound concern for the poor, immigrants, and those in need, his efforts to uphold the sanctity and dignity of God’s gift of life, and his zeal for fostering solidarity, cooperation, and peace within the local community.

In commending the late bishop’s soul to the love and mercy of Christ the Good Shepherd, His Holiness prays that all who honor his memory will be confirmed in the resolve to reject the ways of violence and overcome evil with good.²

To those gathered for the Mass of Christian burial and to all who mourn Bishop O’Connell’s loss in the sure hope of the resurrection, the Holy Father cordially imparts his blessing as a pledge of peace and consolation in the Lord.

So, my brothers and sisters, as we pray tonight for our beloved friend, Bishop Dave, we can be assured that the Holy Father is close to us in his prayers.  

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.³

So I think it is especially beautiful that we have a message from Pope Francis for the family and for the friends and parishioners, and all of us in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

So it’s beautiful that Pope Francis is praying for us and especially is praying for Bishop Dave and assures us that he has received his eternal reward.