LA inspired by murdered Cork bishop to create education curriculum about peacemakers

The project called Blessed are the Peacemakers will feature clips and videos from Bishop David O’Connell's life

The third anniversary of Bishop David O'Connell's murder has been marked this month with several masses in the LA archdiocese. File photo: AP/Julio Cortez

A murdered Cork bishop known as a peacemaker in Los Angeles has inspired a new Catholic education curriculum to be introduced there next year.

Bishop David O’Connell from Brooklodge in Glanmire was shot dead in his home in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County, on February 18, 2023.

The 69-year-old's killing was met with devastation by Catholics across the Los Angeles archdiocese, where he had served since his ordination in 1979. He was laid to rest in a crypt in Los Angeles Cathedral.

Following the killing, Sheriff of Los Angeles County Robert Luna described him as a peacemaker who “had a passion for serving those in need while improving our community".

His close friend Monsignor Jarlath Cunnane is among a group of people working on a project called Blessed are the Peacemakers, a new Catholic education curriculum, which will feature clips and videos from the bishop’s life.

Sligo-born Mr Cunnane said: "It is a curriculum to educate students in junior high school. It is to give them the vision and skills and ability to dialogue across differences and be peacemakers.

"Dave was very interested in that and had done quite a bit of it himself in his life, especially in South LA, bringing together police and community members and schools and all of that. We are working in conjunction with Loyola Press, a big Catholic publisher here and also with the schools department in the archdiocese.

“We will use some videos and clips from his life — not exclusively, as we will use other things too. It will be interactive with videos and exercises and teacher guides.” 

Mr Cunnane said the project comes after the Vatican published an apostolic letter from Pope Leo on Catholic education last October, which called for priorities in education to include “education in language that is peace-building, non-violent, and open to others”.

During a visit with Pope Leo last week, Mr Cunnane shared details of the project with the pontiff, who had known Mr O’Connell through a mutual acquaintance. Mr Cunnane said that the project is currently in the phase of raising funds, to introduce it next year.

The men had been friends since studying together in All Hallows College in Dublin and dined together every Thursday evening up until Mr O’Connell’s death. The third anniversary of his murder has been marked this month with several masses in the LA archdiocese.

Meanwhile, the man charged with his murder remains in custody. Carlos Medina, husband of Mr O’Connell’s housekeeper, was charged in February 2023 with the murder of the Brooklodge native at his home in Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles on February 18, 2023.

Medina was also charged with a special allegation that he used a firearm during the commission of an offence. He has denied both charges.

The case against him remains stalled, however, amid efforts to establish whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.