As the 40 days of Lent have formally started, thousands of Catholic high schoolers and adults are gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend for the yearly Religious Education Congress, put on by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

As the neighborhood mourns the death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell, who was murdered simply days before the liturgical season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, lots of Catholics wish to discover recovery through the practice of their faith.

" We've been keeping Bishop (O'Connell) in our prayers, and praying for his soul," stated guest Fatima Hernandez, who pertained to the event with a group of youth from St. Patrick's Church in North Hollywood. "It's surreal, the type of world we're living in ... violence everywhere, and so near to our neighborhood. It advises me that we aren't here for long, and we need each other in times like this."


< img alt=" Thousands attend Mass at the yearly Religious Education Congress Youth ..." class=" lazyload size-article_inline "data-sizes=" car "data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-02mr.jpg?w=620 "data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-02mr.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-02mr.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-02mr.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-02mr.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-02mr.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Thousands go to Mass at the annual Religious Education Congress Youth Day, a Catholic teaching conference for youth and adults, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim on Thursday, February 23, 2023.( Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG). < img alt=" Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez celebrates Mass at the ..." class=" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" auto" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-03mr.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-03mr.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-03mr.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-03mr.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-03mr.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-03mr.jpg?w=1860 1860w" >
Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez commemorates Mass at the annual Religious Education Congress Youth Day, a Catholic mentor conference for youth and grownups, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim on Thursday, February 23, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG).


< img alt=" Thousands participate in Mass at the annual Religious Education Congress Youth ..." class=" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" auto" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-05mr.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-05mr.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-05mr.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-05mr.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-05mr.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-05mr.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Thousands participate in Mass at the yearly Religious Education Congress Youth Day, a Catholic teaching conference for youth and adults, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Attendees participants the Sacred Space at the annual Religious Education Congress Youth Day, a Catholic teaching conference for youth and adults grownups at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim on Thursday, February 23, 2023.< img alt= "Thousands go to Mass at the yearly Religious Education Congress Youth ..." class=" lazyload size-article_inline" data-sizes=" automobile" data-src=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-07mr.jpg?w=620" data-srcset=" https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-07mr.jpg?w=620 620w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-07mr.jpg?w=780 780w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-07mr.jpg?w=810 810w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-07mr.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https://www.pressenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LDN-L-OCONNELL-CONGRESS-0224-07mr.jpg?w=1860 1860w" > Thousands participate in Mass at the annual Religious Education Congress Youth Day, a Catholic teaching conference for youth and grownups,
held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim on Thursday, February 23, 2023.

A special prayer service was set for Sunday early morning, Feb. 26. And the Sacred Space, a multimedia exhibit and location for prayer, was also devoted to the late bishop-- who was beloved by lots of throughout the Los Angeles location and beyond. The display consisted of a touching photo memorial of O'Connell, with a book that individuals might sign and leave messages. This year's conference styles - "Embrace Grace" for the adults, and" Strive For Life" for youths - are markers of what the faithful seek throughout the season of Lent and beyond. Organizers stated that O'Connell had participated in the Catholic convention, now in its 67th year, each year given that he joined the Archdiocese of L.A. On Thursday, Feb. 23, thousands of high school teens from local parishes and schools pertained to the convention

center for the annual RE Congress Youth Day, beginning the weekend with workshops and prayer." It's a fantastic experience to connect with God, and to find out about
your faith with your good friends," said Ale Dominguez, 17, from North Hollywood. Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez commemorated the closing Youth Mass with thousands in participation, consisting of fellow bishops

from surrounding Catholic dioceses. Gomez began the Mass in commitment of his pal and fellow bishop, who served the San Gabriel Valley area and operated in the

archdiocese for 45 years. "It has actually been a truly unfortunate time for the household of God, "Gomez stated in his homily." Bishop Dave was a buddy and a holy priest. I understand that a number of you knew him, or he celebrated your confirmation Masses. We wish to keep wishing the repose of his soul, and for consolation of his family and the archdiocese.". As the teens sang and hoped throughout the Mass, Gomez advised them to bear in mind and honor the late bishop's life-- particularly as the duration of Lent, a time of sacrifice and reflection, begins. "He was a man who liked Jesus Christ, and provided his whole life to follow Jesus and be his

buddy," Gomez said, reminding the youth of the conference theme." We all want to find love, happiness and significance in our lives; just as Bishop Dave did. In Christ, we can discover the love and happiness that
we are searching for. To select life-- that is what God wants for each people.". A group of 20 teens pertained to the Religious Ed Congress from St. Joseph Catholic Church in La Puente, a few miles from where O'Connell lived in Hacienda Heights. They were expected to have a special confirmation Mass with Bishop O'Connell later on in the spring." It still does not feel genuine," said Isabella Torres, 16." When we learnt, I had no words ... like, why would this happen to the bishop, of all people? He was a missionary, constantly assisting those in need.". Torres and her buddies remembered when O'Connell celebrated a yearly Mass at their school, St. Joseph Elementary School.

" Every time he would come to our school, he would go to the cross and state how much he likes Jesus," Torres said." As Catholics, we learn that we have to forgive sins-- Jesus forgives," Parra said. Ariana's mommy, ‘Ana Parra, said the spiritual conference happening days after the bishop's abrupt

death, and around the start of Lent, was "devastating. Ravaging.

Amber Harris, a youth catechist at St. Joseph's, said that O'Connell would always visit their church and surrounding high schools. Harris said she didn't understand how this year's verification Masses-- where the Bishop normally hopes and blesses over the youth-- were going to go, and

things would still need to be planned outPrepared" His passion was always the youth,