A peacemaker who, above all else, loved Jesus. This was how Catholics throughout Southern California remembered Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was fatally shot one week ago at his home in Hacienda Heights.

Hundreds of the faithful gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center on Sunday for a solemn prayer service to remember the late bishop’s life. The bilingual service was led by Archbishop José H. Gomez at the annual Religious Education Congress, put on by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

“We all feel the presence of Bishop Dave in a special way, especially here at our conference this weekend,” said Gomez, who wore an all-black cassock during his remarks. “It is beautiful to be able to reflect on his life, his ministry, and his effect on so many people.”

O’Connell’s death on Feb. 18 was days before the season of Lent and the weekend-long religious education conference attended by thousands of youths, youth ministers and the faithful. But as the community mourns, they hope to find strength, healing and inspiration by remembering O’Connell’s zeal for life, love of people, and his Catholic faith. Many of the conference’s workshops and events, including a sacred prayer space, have been dedicated to him.

O’Connell was “a regular” at RECongress since he arrived to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1979, celebrating Masses and participating in immigration-related talks and workshop, officials from the Los Angeles Archdiocese said. The bishop was mostly remembered by those attending for his friendly conversations with all who stopped him while walking the Convention Center halls in between workshops and Masses.

Sunday’s solemn liturgy featured special Irish and Celtic prayers and music. O’Connell was born in 1953 in County Cork, Ireland. A slideshow of photos from his service was played, showing the Bishop’s deep connection to the people he served for decades around the archdiocese, and followed by prayers and testimonies.

Dayrin Perez, a youth ministry coordinator with the archdiocese, said that O’Connell had spoken and influenced many young people attending a National Catholic Youth Conference in Long Beach last year.

“He invited young people to talk with Jesus, with love,” Perez said. “Bishop Dave made young people, and all of us adults in that room felt seen, loved, and worthy of a personal relationship with Jesus. I hope I can take all I’ve learned from him and put that into practice with my family at home and all those I serve.”

The Rev. Jay Cunnane of St. Cornelius Catholic Church in Long Beach had been friends with O’Connell for more than 50 years. He talked about his weekly dinners with him, always seeing him in deep, reverent prayer, and his heart “always moved for young people and their suffering.”

“Dave was my ‘soul friend,’ and he was not just my friend. … He was such a good friend to many,” said Cunnane. “I was better for having known Dave O’Connell. … The essence of him was his relationship with Jesus Christ. He always wanted to give people Jesus.”

The archdiocese created an online tribute to O’Connell, called “A Hail Mary for Bishop Dave,” which includes a digital memorial book and the last homily he ever made.

Funeral services were announced this week at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights and at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown L.A. On Thursday, there will be a public viewing from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 -6 p.m., followed by a livestreamed vigil Mass at the cathedral. The funeral Mass on Friday will be also livestreamed from the cathedral.