Blog - February 2023

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."

February 5, 2023: "Whenever Jesus starts a sentence with the words, “you are,” I think we need to pay special attention. Because he is telling us something important about our purpose in life, the purpose of our mission. And our purpose is just this: to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world."