St. Paul the Apostle

Theme: “Out of the Desert: Rebulding the Church"

The Most Reverend David G. O’Connell is the Episcopal Vicar of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, one of the five Pastoral Regions in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Cell Ausaille and Auxiliary Bishop in 2015.

Bishop O’Connell received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Philosophy and English Literature from the University College Dublin in 1975, a Bachelor of Divinity from Maynooth College in 1977 and a Masters of Spirituality from Mount St. Mary's College in 1987.

Bishop will be presenting some thoughts and reflections on the rebuilding of the universal church in this time of the corona virus pandemic.

 Theme: “We Return From the Desert Together”

Rick Howick hosts Orange County Catholic Radio, the weekly show for the Diocese of Orange which highlights the people and events of concern to Southern California Catholics (on Relevant Radio, AM 930 & 1000). A former Presbyterian, Rick finished his seminary education and training toward Protestant ordination when he converted to the Roman Catholic faith after a deep examination of history. He is currently completing his PhD. dissertation in Christian History, and holds a Masters in Divinity, a Masters in Education, and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies. He served as a Catholic school teacher and principle, taught college courses on Jesus and the Bible, and happily resides with Cathleen, his wife of 27 years in Riverside.

As we emerge from the Covid lockdown, Rick reflects on the temptations of Christ after his forty days in the wilderness. Out temptations are much like those of Jesus as he emerged from the desert. Rediscover how we confront them as a parish community of Christ, and how we find Christ most completely in the parish: in the Eucharist, in the faces who surround us, and in the Christ we share in parish life.