Murdered Cork-born bishop welcomed gay parishioners and paid rent for migrant families

As the anniversary approaches of Bishop David O'Connell's murder, friends and family of the Glanmire man share memories of his kindness and generosity

Bishop David O’Connell with Cleivi Jerez Arrendodo and her daughters, who he helped with rent after Cleivi’s husband Fernando was deported under the family separation policy brought in in the US in 2018.

When a young gay man’s path first crossed with a Cork-born bishop, he did not realise the meeting would change his life.

But as the first anniversary of Bishop David O’Connell’s murder at his Los Angeles home approaches in February, Bill Chapman is one of hundreds of people across the archdiocese of Los Angeles who grieves the loss of the affable Corkman.

As a gay Catholic, Mr Chapman has been involved in leading LGBTQ ministry in the LA archdiocese for over a decade in a bid to increase the outreach to Catholics from LGBTQ backgrounds. 

Through his work in the Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons, he regularly met Bishop O’Connell and remembers feeling acceptance when he first met the Glanmire native.

He says: “I met Bishop Dave back in 2015, shortly after he was installed as regional bishop in Los Angeles. I was serving on the Regional Pastoral Council for the region to which he was appointed.” 

Describing him as an incredible man, he adds: “Bishop Dave was a wonderful human being — truly a saint walking on earth.” 

Bishop David O'Connell, from Brooklodge in Glanmire, was shot in his home in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County. Picture: AP /Julio Cortez

Bishop O’Connell, 69, was found dead in his home in Hacienda Heights in Los Angeles on February 18 after being shot multiple times.

A church deacon made the discovery at about 1pm local time after Bishop O’Connell failed to turn up for a meeting.

Bishop O’Connell was laid to rest in a crypt in Los Angeles Cathedral in March. His brother, Kieran, and other members of Bishop O’Connell’s family, travelled to the US for the funeral.

He was consecrated a bishop in Los Angeles in 2015, having been ordained for the US diocese in June 1979.

Author Julianne Stanz is another person whose life has been changed by meeting Bishop Dave. As speaker and director of New Evangelization for the Diocese of Green Bay, her path crossed with his when she met him at a religious education congress, where she was a speaker.

She recalls the development of their friendship: “I am a consultant to the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops — to the Evangelization and Catechesis Committee and some years ago, as the only female and young adult consultant on this committee, Bishop Dave was a huge support to me. We often met at official events across a pot of tea and a meal. 

"Bishop and I talked regularly and a couple of times a year would meet in cities such as Washington DC, Baltimore or Las Angeles. We often walked through the inner city talking about our lives in America and our families in Ireland. I witnessed first hand his love for the poor, the homeless, for women in poverty and for the hungry.” She said the popular Corkman had a big effect on her life.

“His impact upon my life was profound, deep and lasting. Although I work with many bishops from all across the world, Bishop O'Connell stands as a witness of hope, healing and hospitality to all. 

He was a true man of the people — kind, funny and thoughtful. He never spoke down to anyone and indeed, asked questions endeavoring to learn as much as he could from different people — from all walks of life. 

"He loved with his whole heart and never judged or condemned anyone. Although 25 years separated our ages, I felt a kinship with him as an Irish person borne of shared understanding and a desire to help every person understand their worth and their sacred dignity. 

"He was a peacemaker, a reconciler and has been upheld by the Papal Nuncio and indeed Pope Francis as a healing presence in a deeply divided world, but particularly the United States.

“David's life, legacy and witness deserves to be remembered with the same dignity and goodness with which he treated all people.” 

Their words reflect the feeling throughout the Los Angeles archdiocese after the murder of the highly popular bishop.

All county flags in Los Angeles were lowered to half-mast in his honour following the killing, while vigils were held nightly in the week afterwards.

In the days and weeks after his death, flowers were placed at his home, tributes were written and stories were shared about the warmth, generosity and openness of Bishop Dave.

Among them was a Guatemalan woman whose family’s rent was paid for by Bishop David O’Connell after her husband was separated from them at the US border.

Cleivi Jerez and her husband Fernando Arredondo recalled how the cleric had privately helped them when Fernando was arrested at the US-Mexico border in 2018 under the controversial family separation policy implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The couple and their three daughters fled to the US from Guatemala after the murder of their teenage son in their homeland. But when they reached what they thought would be the safety of the US border, a new horror unfolded. 

Mourners attend the public viewing for Bishop David O'Connell at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California, on March 2 last. Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images

There, Fernando and their then 12-year-old daughter were pulled apart at the immigration controls. He was arrested and deported back to Guatemala while Cleivi and their three daughters had to continue on their journey alone. They ended up in Los Angeles, where their paths crossed with Bishop Dave.

As well as paying their rent, he pushed for reunification of the family. Her husband returned to the US in January 2020 with eight others who had also been deported under the same policy. The policy was subsequently revoked and the family were recently granted asylum in the US.

On January 10, the man accused of his murder, Carlos Medina, will return to court for a further remand hearing as Bishop O’Connell’s family in Cork await his trial.

Carlos Medina, 61, pleaded not guilty when charged with the murder in February.

Medina was also charged with a special allegation he personally used a firearm during the commission of an offence.

He had been arrested after barricading himself into his home following the discovery of the bishop's body.

Medina’s wife worked as a housekeeper for the bishop, while Medina himself also carried out some work for him on a number of occasions.

If convicted, Medina could face up to 35 years to life in prison.