Police are trying to figure out the motive behind the murder of California Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell.
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Those who knew and loved Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell are relying on their faith to get through this tragedy.
And they’re remembering their beloved bishop as a man of peace, a fierce advocate for immigrants, and just a funny guy.
Cracking jokes at Mass is just one of the memories parishioners have of the bishop.
“He was a good guy and he was always talking about it,” Ron Sanceda, a local Parishioner, said. “He would joke, he was a joking guy, and he was a pleasure to listen to.”
Stunned Catholics have been turning to prayer in the wake of the beloved bishop’s murder.
“He changed our lives,” Lucy Boutte, a parishioner said. “Very supportive, (he’d) always working for the good of people.”
After being ordained a priest in 1979, O’Connell ministered at several parishes–mainly dealing with gang violence and poverty.
When he was named an auxiliary bishop in 2015, working with immigrants really became a top priority for him.
It’s how Los Angeles County supervisor, Hilda Solis, says she came to know him and his passion in working to help to pass immigration reform.
“He continued to diligently work and seek assistance for those vulnerable individuals in our community,” Solis said. “Especially young people and especially the undocumented young people.”
Solis called him a personal friend and said her heart is broken. It’s a grief felt by so many in this community.
“He’s just a beautiful human being,” Betty Covarrubias, a parishioner, said. “It’s just hard to believe anybody would ever consider hurting him in any way.”
Bishop O’Connell founded and served as chairman of the inter-diocesan Southern California immigration task force, which helped coordinate the church’s response to the recent influx of migrants.
Friends and parishioners are still waiting to hear of funeral arrangements by the archdiocese of Los Angeles.
By John Lavenburg
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — A 65-year-old man from Torrance, California, who had a work connection to Bishop David O’Connell, was arrested on Feb. 20 as the main suspect in the Los Angeles auxiliary bishop’s murder, according to local authorities.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced at a news conference that the suspect, Carlos Medina, surrendered and was taken into custody without incident at his home at approximately 8:15 a.m. Feb. 20 after a standoff with authorities.
Medina’s wife was Bishop O’Connell’s housekeeper, and he had also previously worked at Bishop O’Connell’s residence, Luna said. The sheriff later clarified that while Medina may have worked for Bishop O’Connell, they’re “still trying to figure out what the relationship was.
“Our priority before 8 this morning was to apprehend this suspect, and we did, by some amazing detective work,” Luna said. “Our next priority is to get him prosecuted.”
A visibly emotional Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles also spoke at the Feb. 20 news conference where Medina’s arrest was announced. He recognized Bishop O’Connell’s more than 40 years serving Los Angeles and remembered him as a “man of peace” in the community.
“Every day [Bishop O’Connell] worked to show compassion to the poor, to the homeless, to the immigrant, and to all those living on society’s margins,” Archbishop Gomez said. “He was a good priest, and a good bishop, and a man of peace, and we are very sad to lose him.”
“In what is a sad and painful moment for all of us, thank you again for your concern and regards, and please, let’s keep praying for Bishop Dave and his family, and let us keep praying for our law enforcement officials as they continue the investigation,” he continued.
Bishop O’Connell was found dead in his Hacienda Heights home on Feb. 18. He was discovered by authorities in his bedroom, having suffered at least one gunshot wound to the upper body. The incident became a murder investigation the next morning after homicide investigators responded to the scene, Luna said.
Later that morning, detectives discovered surveillance footage that showed a vehicle that had pulled into the bishop’s driveway, stayed for a short time, and then left. A tip then led them to Medina, who drove an SUV similar to the one described, and the tipster noted “they were concerned because Medina had been acting strange, irrational, and making comments about the bishop owing him money,” according to Luna.
The sheriff later clarified that he is not certain of any dispute between Medina and Bishop O’Connell but said that it is something that “the detectives will investigate.” A motive remains unclear, Luna added.
After identifying Medina as the suspect, authorities got a warrant for his arrest and went to his residence early on Feb. 20. After a period of refusing calls from authorities for his surrender, Medina exited his residence at approximately 8:15 a.m. and was taken into custody without further incident, Luna said.
Two firearms and other evidence possibly linking Medina to the crime were recovered, Luna added. The firearms will be examined and tested by authorities to determine if either was used in the murder.
Certain facts remain unknown, including Bishop O’Connell’s exact time of death, what led to the shooting, and how exactly Medina got into Bishop O’Connell’s home. Luna also noted that so far, Bishop O’Connell’s housekeeper, Medina’s wife, has cooperated with investigators, but he didn’t rule out the possibility of charges for her in the future, saying “at this point early on in the investigation, anything’s a possibility.’
Speaking after Luna, Janice Hahn, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for the 4th District, announced all of the county’s flags will be lowered to half-staff in Bishop O’Connell’s honor, calling his heart “boundless.”
“The County of Los Angeles has lost a partner in our work to help those in need, and the world has lost a force for goodness and kindness,” Hahn said. “It’s unthinkable that his life came to an end so tragically.”
Born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1953, Bishop O’Connell was ordained to serve in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979 and has been there ever since, gaining a reputation as a peacemaker in the community who reached out to all those on the margins. Pope Francis made him an auxiliary bishop in 2015.
Two days after his murder, the tributes to Bishop O’Connell continued from around the Catholic world.
Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross, Ireland — Bishop O’Connell’s native diocese — said the news has sent “shockwaves” throughout the community.
“On behalf of the people, priests, and religious of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and on my own behalf, I wish to express my sympathies and prayerful support to the Bishop O’Connell family in Cork, to Archbishop José H Gomez and the people, priests, and religious of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” Bishop Gavin said.
“We will pray for Bishop David at Mass throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross in the coming days asking the Lord to comfort his family, his colleagues, and all the bereaved,” he continued. “Bishop David worked tirelessly for peace and harmony in communities; may he now rest in the peace of the Lord.”
Another tribute came from Bishop Robert Barron, who was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles seven years ago, alongside Bishop O’Connell, before he was appointed to the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in June of last year.
“From the moment I met him, I was struck by his goodness, kindness, prayerfulness, and simplicity of heart. Throughout the course of my years in the LA Archdiocese, Bishop Dave was a constant source of support, encouragement, and good humor,” Bishop Barron said.
“He dedicated his priesthood to serving the poor. I can honestly say that he was one of the most Christ-like men I’ve known,” he continued. “May he rest in peace.”
A suspect in the shooting death of a beloved Auxiliary Bishop in California is now in police custody.
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With the rapid growing number of migrants in New York city and food insecurity at an all-time high, St. Francis breadline is in dire need of more volunteers and resources.
By Jessica Easthope
The bells toll at 7 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Midtown Manhattan, but long before that – people are lining up.
St. Francis Breadline has been a constant for the homeless and food insecure in New York City for close to a century. They’ve served through the Great Depression, wars, natural disasters and a global pandemic, ever only missing four days, but now they’re up against something truly unprecedented.
“We need to make them feel welcome and we need to listen to them, that doesn’t cost anything and from there we’ll try to do more,” said executive director Patrick Regan.
In less than a year, New York City has taken in more than 45,000 migrants from Central and South America, all of whom are in need. Regan says the migrant crisis has forced the nonprofit to expand its ministry to running two separate breadlines every day.
The breadline is serving more people now than at the height of the pandemic. More food insecurity means more people are needed to help, and not just hand out food, but be the face of hope for the newly arrived.
“I hope that they feel when they come to St Francis of Assisi, they’re being helped and we’re trying to expand how we’re helping them,” he said.
St. Francis Breadline is now partnering with the Diocese of Brooklyn Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, asking students and anyone over the age of 13 to volunteer on Saturday mornings. Associate director Lucia Morales says it’s designed to be more than just community service.
“We want this to be more than just a check-off, we’re Catholics, we want this to be part of their identity. There are a lot of new migrants who have a new home and are looking for help and we want to make sure they’re aware of what’s happening in their own city, the more exposed they are the more empathetic, compassionate beings they can be,” she said.
The breadline starts at seven every morning. Asking teenagers to get up before the sun on a Saturday is a sacrifice, but Lucia says giving of ourselves to others, even when it’s hard is what our faith is about.
“We want our kids to be disciplined and smart and hardworking but we also want them to be loving and I do it in Jesus’ name not to tell the whole world but because it’s between you and God.” She said.
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is signing students and young adults up for each Saturday from now until September. The real hope is it extends far beyond that.
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By Paula Katinas and Jessica Easthope
PARK SLOPE — Aradhana Agarwala has quite an impressive resume as a musician. She plays the piano as well as the clarinet and has composed at least 40 pieces of music. Even more impressive: She’s just 11 years old.
Despite her youth, composing music is nothing new for Aradhana, a sixth grader at St. Saviour Catholic Academy in Park Slope. In fourth grade, she took part in an ambitious project — creating a musical based on the life of Harriet Tubman.
Aradhana puts a lot of thought into her compositions. “I like to think of the setting when I’m writing music. If it’s taking place in a mystical forest, I’ll do something with the flute and string instruments. It gives me an empowering feeling,” she explained.
What’s unusual about all of this is that it’s not unusual at St. Saviour Catholic Academy. The school takes music instruction seriously, so seriously, in fact, that it requires students to compose music.
Starting in the fifth grade, all students at the K-to-8 school take part in the Young Composer Initiative, a program developed by music teacher Ted Stafford to unlock children’s creativity, promote a positive work ethic and instill in them a sense of teamwork.
Some students learn to play musical instruments while others learn to sing, but all get the chance to write music. At the end of the school term, their musical compositions are performed by professional musicians in concert at St. Saviour Church — a big thrill for the junior Bachs and Beethovens.
“It’s great because when you see it written down and then have it being played, it’s very different. You get to see what you’ve done and see it all come together,” said seventh grader Jocelyn Rossillo, a flute player.
Music teacher Ted Stafford said, “To hear your own piece played in the church by a bunch of pros? It’s pretty amazing for these kids.”
The program is an important part of life at St. Saviour, said Principal Susan Walsh, who immediately gave Stafford the green light as soon as he proposed it nine years ago.
“The Young Composer Initiative is important to us as a school because we try to balance the arts and the academics. We want to send well-rounded children out into the world,” she said. “They’re also learning how to read music, write music, and then they hear their songs recorded.”
Aradhana, who is adept at both the piano and the clarinet, loves taking part in the Young Composer Initiative.
“I really like expressing myself through music,” she explained. “I know a lot of kids think that composing is only for people who are older and that you have to know all about music before you start. But I think that music is the universal language and it’s for everyone. People my age can do it. You can learn as you do it.”
That’s music to Stafford’s ears because it fits in perfectly with his philosophy. Part of his goal in creating the program was to demystify music education.
“It’s not rocket science. It’s not magic,” Stafford said. “It’s a learnable skill that anyone can do, and it really comes down to being a right.
Everybody should know how to compose a reasonable melody, just like learning to write an essay or being able to solve a math problem. It’s among the skills that everyone should have as part of their right to education.”
Stafford estimated that in the nine years since the inception of the Young Composers Initiative, more than 300 students have come through the program.
The students work on their compositions during twice-a-week sessions in the school’s music room. But the youngsters often find ideas coming to them in their lives outside of school.
“I was sitting down at my desk trying to do my homework and I got an idea,” said Ella Lee. “And then suddenly I said, ‘Wait, this could be a good sound. This could be a good tune if I add more instruments to it.’ And that was actually one of my inspirations for the first piece I composed.”
Ella called her piece “Dance of the Tides,” a name inspired by the fact that on paper, the melody looked like waves.
The young composers are influenced by a variety of musical genres — classical, jazz, hip-hop and rap.
Alessio Cavaleri, a seventh grader who plays the saxophone and the drums, listens a lot to the rapper Eminem. “Listening to him gives me ideas,” he said.
Ella loves Beethoven. “I see his pieces as really intense and they have nice mood changes. But I don’t look up to him as a piano player. For that, I look up to people like Mendelssohn and Rachmaninoff,” she explained.
Alessio enjoys the freedom of expression that comes with composing. “You have a lot more options when you’re creating music. You can do so many different things because you’re not locked in and you’re not being super delicate. You can just go crazy on it and it will just sound good anyway,” he said.
Stafford said one of the best things about the program is that it often frees the students from the fear of failure and opens them up to try new things.
“They know it doesn’t have to be perfect. But it has to be written,” he added.
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St. Saviour Catholic Academy in Park Slope has a program called the “Young Composers Initiative.”
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