BISHOP ALFONSO GALLEGOS STILL BEING REMEMBERED

October 6, 2020 marks the 29^th anniversary of the death of Venerable Alfonso Gallegos, Augustinian Recollect and former Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento, California.His memory and legacy continue to live in the hearts of those he encountered.

 Saint Teresa of Calcutta is quoted as saying: “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

 Those who were blessed to meet Bishop Gallegos left happier and felt appreciated as human beings. Even if that encounter was brief as in the case of Stephen M. Bauer who met him in the 1980s at a St. Patrick's Day fundraiser: “I was a volunteer bartender, and so I was in a position to observe him interacting with everyone else. Previously, I had never heard of him. Before the dinner started, however, he came up to me and introduced himself. I believe he told me to just call him Al. He was a warm, very outgoing, ‘people’ person and not the least bit stiff, aloof or patronizing. You would never know he was a Bishop! My own personal conversation with him lasted probably less than sixty seconds. And yet for those few seconds, I felt profoundly valued as a person. I have never forgotten that.”

 His former secretary Olympia Nuñez recalls his humble soul and pure spirit. “He was so kind and cheerful and he tried to convey that to the people, among personal suffering to be kind and cheerful. He would often say: ‘What a beautiful day!’ He was so optimistic.”

AldoNuñezwho was an altar boy at Cristo Rey Church, Los Angeles, when Gallegos was pastor there says: “I remember his great smile, his laughter, his love of life, love for people and God. He conveyed that love to all of us. He always reminded the youth to have God in mind in all of our actions. He was able to lead me away from gangs and drugs without pushing me out of it, but talking to me and encouraging me to do God’s will, in a kind way. I really do hope that in my lifetime I see him become a saint.”

Bishop Gallegos has left a lasting memory in the hearts of many and continues to touch many lives with his inspirational life story of kindness and love. His journey was remarkable: overcoming his lifetime struggles with myopia with fortitude and faith and going on to become a religious, a priest and a bishop.

 

Love is what remains and is remembered. That reality is captured beautifully in St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians: ^“Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

 

Bishop Alfonso Gallegos is remembered 29 years after his death because he faithfully lived out the commandment of Jesus Christ to “Love one another,” and in so doing spread love wherever he went.Whoever encountered him left happier after meeting him, and that is why he is still remembered to this day.

Alfonso Gallegos was ordained a priest in the Order of Augustinian Recollects in 1958 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento, California in 1981. He served in New York, Los Angeles and Sacramento. His cause of canonization was opened in December 2005 and he was declared Venerable by Pope Francis in 2016. His mortal remains rest in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Sacramento.

Bishop Alfonso Gallegos declared “Venerable”

Four years ago on July 8, 2016 Bishop Alfonso Gallegos was declared venerable by Pope Francis. In the Catholic Church, a Christian is declared venerable when The Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the Vatican approves the “Positio” a document that includes, in addition to the testimonies of the witnesses, the main aspects of the life, virtues and writings of the Servant of God. If by these detailed inquiries it is concluded that his virtues were heroic, the Holy Father declares him “Venerable”.

Bishop Gallegos radiated something special, joy, peace, love, holiness, as stated by the witnesses for his cause of canonization:

ü  “For me, he manifested his holiness because he was never angry. He was always smiling. He never made an ugly face or treated you badly. His patience with all was limitless.”(T. Guevara)

ü  “Father surrendered himself to God’s will and he gave himself to his parishioners. He communicated that holiness. I think he was holy because of the way he was, a very special person.”(M. Calvo)

ü  “Bishop Alfonso was a person with a lot of charisma, dedicated to his priestly vocation, an example as a priest, as a person and as a Christian. I think he was a holy person. We all felt his loss and because of the way he lived his lifewe ​​do not doubt his holiness.” (R. Vallejo)

ü  “I say he was holy, because I have attended many Masses and retreats, but I have not met priests like him. His words were unforgettable, they always touched you.” (G. Zamora)

Many people have sought the intercession of Bishop Gallegos because they consider him to be a holy man. Let us see a few testimonies:

ü  “Between 1997 and 2009 I suffered with open wounds in the lower part of my feet, which caused me great pain. During this time I visited a specialist, I had several medical procedures done and I was given creams, but nothing healed the wounds. After praying to Bishop Alfonso Gallegos, my wounds healed in a matter of weeks to my surprise and the doctors’.” (P. Urritia)

ü  “My wife had an eye surgery scheduled to remove her cataracts. I made a novena to Bishop Gallegos, before hersurgery. The day came to see her doctor once again before her surgery; they examined her eyes and found that there was no surgery needed.” (J. Detlie)

ü  R… was pregnant when she was informed that the child in her womb had a birth defect, according to medical records. Diagnosis: “Echogenic mass with multiple cystic structures in the right lung of the fetus. It is very likely that this represents a cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lungs.” She was informed about the optionsto terminate the pregnancy, which she and her husband rejected. After this diagnosis, the grandmother of this child prayed to Bishop Alfonso during the pregnancy. The child was born healthy, without any birth defect. (R. Rebecca)

We continue praying that the Church proclaim Alfonso Gallegos a blessed and a saint. It has already been proven that he lived intimately united to Jesus Christ, practicing the virtues in a heroic manner. One miracle attributed to his intercession is needed for him to be beatifiedand a second miracle to be proclaimed a saint.

If you have received a favor through the intercession of Bishop Alfonso Gallegos or know of someone who has please contact us at: obispoalfonsogallegos@gmail.com. Your testimony could help his cause of canonization.

TEENAGER RECOVERS SIGHT BEFORE TOMB OF BISHOP ALFONSO GALLEGOS

Twelve years ago, a young teenage girl, Sara L. S. from Oxnard,

California, was losing her sight. She saw various doctors but none could explain why she was losing her sight. Sara decided to speak to a priest who told her to pray to Bishop Alfonso Gallegos who suffered with poor vision, seeking his intercession, and to possibly visit his tomb in Sacramento, California. Sara and her family decided to travel six hours to pray before the tomb of Bishop Gallegos and this is what happened:

On June 28, 2008, my family and I woke up around 4 am preparing

for our big trip to Sacramento, California. Our hearts were full of faith and in our minds we all knew that I was going to come back seeing again. The reason is that I lost my sight on September 11, 2007. It happened suddenly. All that I remember is that I suddenly fainted, and the following day when I woke up I could not see at all. All I could see were what I would describe as spots of many colors but nothing I could actually recognize. My family was worried. We went to a neurologist, an

ophthalmologist, and a cardiologist. One of my doctors found it to be a phenomenon. Months went by and still I could not see. Depressed and disappointed, I told my mother I wanted to speak with Father Eliseo González. I told him

everything about my vision problem, my worries and my thoughts. That is when he first introduced me to Bishop Alfonso Gallegos and told me that the Bishop also had vision problems throughout his life and he could possibly help me. I told my family about Bishop Gallegos. We decided to visit his tomb in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Sacramento, California, to ask for his intercession.

We arrived at the cemetery about 11:00am but were delayed because

the mausoleum was closed. We finally entered around 11:45 am. We went straight to where he was buried and there the four of us knelt down and prayed with all our hearts full of faith. My grandmother told my mother and grandfather to put their right hand over my head and pray in the name of Bishop Gallegos. When they started to pray and said his name I fainted for what my mother says was a few minutes. When I woke up I saw a beautiful brilliant

light that was very large with the shape of a man holding what I thought was a stick and on his head was a pointed hat. Father Eliseo later explained to me that that was how a bishop would dress to symbolize his role. The figure just stared at me. I felt so

much at peace, and my heart knew that I was staring at Bishop Gallegos. The light had two shades of color: the figure was what I recall a golden bright color and the surrounding area was more of a really bright yellow color.

My mother saw me staring up at the ceiling without blinking, but the light never hurt my eyes at all. Slowly it started fading away until it was entirely gone and I have never seen it again. After I saw that light, which I believe was Bishop Gallegos, I closed my eyes and then opened them again and saw perfectly. I could see every small detail of my family’s faces, where we were, my hands and my mother’s eyes filled with tears and the tomb of Bishop Gallegos. I was filled with emotion and at the same time in shock. I finally told my mother with a shaking voice that I could see again; when the family heard that, they were moved to tears because in our hearts we knew that something extraordinary had taken place. Filled with gratitude we began to thank God and Bishop Gallegos with all our might. My grandmother started praying the rosary but I could not even speak as I felt so many things at that moment – happiness, shock, gratitude, and absolute wonderful peace. We stayed there for what (I estimate) about two hours

This occurred 12 years ago, and I am happy to say that I haven’t lost my sight ever since then, thanks to God and the intercession of Bishop Gallegos.

 

To follow up on this wonderful story, Sara was recently accepted into the University of UCLA, Los Angeles, California, biology major, a dream come true for her thanks to the intercession of Bishop Gallegos.  

 

VENERABLE BISHOP ALFONSO GALLEGOS AND THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Bishop Alfonso Gallegos was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 20, 1931. On February 24 he was baptized; on December 6, 1931 he received the sacrament of Confirmation; both sacraments in Sacred Heart Church, Albuquerque, NM. On October 6, 1991, Bishop Gallegos presided his last Eucharist at Sacred Heart Church, Gridley, California. He died that night in a car accident, as he returned home to Sacramento. The Sacred Heart of Jesus was present at the beginning and at the end of his life.

The witnesses for his cause of canonization said that: “He was very good, patient, loving and always treated everyone the same, poor, rich, young, elderly and children. He liked be among people. He visited families in their homes and ate whatever they offered him. He treated others with love and respect as a good servant of God. ”

Another witness said: “He was pure love, he radiated love, and hegave you love and made you feel loved when you were in his presence.” He had a great heart which he nourished with the Word of God and Eucharistic devotion.

Bishop Gallegos always went to the source of Love, Jesus in the Eucharist, where his heart is beating and from where he wants to give us a heart like his.“I shall give them a single heart and I shall put a new spirit in them; I shall remove the heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they can keep my laws and respect my judgements and put them into practice.” Ezekiel 11:19-20.

Alfonso may not have been an eloquent man, who left behind a legacy of books or many writings, partly due to his poor vision, myopia, with which he struggled his entire life. The bishop was rather an approachable human being who made it a priority to be close to his people, visiting their homes, their workplace and always in search of the lost sheep. As he interacted with his brothers and sisters, he was able to write not with ink, nor on paper, but in the hearts of others, leaving behind a beautiful memory of love and friendship. 

Many people remember with great affection their friend “Bishop Al.” Many have asked for his intercession, finding help and consolation, while others their heart of stone has become a heart of flesh: embracing the Catholic faith, leaving their vices behind, reconciling with a loved one; these are a fewfavors attributed to his intercession.

As we venerate the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us ask God to give us a heart like his, to be able to love as he loves us,as Venerable Bishop Alfonso Gallegos was able to livethe command of Jesus Christ: “Love one another,” his episcopal motto. May the Blessed Virgin Mary help us correspond faithfully to the love of her son, represented in his Sacred Heart.

JUNE 8, 1958: FIRST MASS OF FATHER ALFONSO GALLEGOS

Gallegos would often say, “What a beautiful day!”

Truly for him all days were beautiful lived in the presence of God and doing his will. On June 8, 1958, Alfonso returned to San Miguel Church, in Watts, Los Angeles, California, to celebrate his first Mass in the parish where he had been an altar server; that day was beautiful.

He was a very pious boy, respectful and well mannered. This is what a childhood friend said about him: “Everything about the church he took seriously. We use to call him “El Santito,” (The little saint). He seemed to be better than us. He was very spiritual and took things more to heart. When people would joke about the church, the priest, the rosary, he would get serious. He would not join in that kind of conversations. When we called him “El Santito” he would just smile.”

He was always involved in the church as a young child as testified by a classmate: “As a child he was involved in the parish. He was in church all the time. He was very religious as a kid; he was always going to church, to Mass or to pray the rosary. He was a good altar boy.” So it was not much of a surprise that Alfonso decided to become a priest.

Gallegos would celebrate his first Mass, the same way he would every Eucharist, “solemn, with tremendous reverence and very devoted,” as stated by the witnesses for his cause of canonization:

“His love of the Eucharist was evident in the reverent celebration of the Liturgy. His voice and his posture were indicative of a deep love of his priestly service to us. Thomas Merton once wrote: ‘You can tell a saint by the way he sits and stands; by the way he picks things up and holds them in his hands,’ this fits Fr. Alphonse.”

“When he celebrated Mass he was an inspiration; he celebrated in a profound way, by the way he would talk. His sermons were simple, but very Christ centered, inviting to faith and conversion. He inspired me to be more devoted to the Eucharist by his example.”

“I liked the way he celebrated the Mass. He was very passionate in the celebration of the Eucharist. What I liked about him was that he was somewhat traditional, things were the way they were supposed to be. I believe he had a great respect for the Eucharist; this is probably why as altar boys we practiced every Friday, until we got it right, how to serve in Mass.”

Alfonso had a great reverence for the Holy Eucharist and lived his life being grateful, knowing all is a gift from God.

The holy card, he had made for his first Mass, on the front it has the Eucharist and a chalice, on the back it reads: “Thank you Lord for my parents and for all who helped me reach your Holy altar.”

GALLEGOS, INTERCESSOR IN THE FACE OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES

Francisco filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and turned to an attorney to help him with the legal issues of his house debt. He paid him 5,000 dollars for his services, but the lawyer disappeared with the money. Francisco brought the case to the courts but the lawyer did not appear. Thus three years passed between court dates and court dates nothing was resolved.

In 2015 the financial situation was very difficult for Francisco that he decided to make a novena to Bishop Alfonso Gallegos to help him get his money back from the attorney. A few days after finishing the novena, when he was not at home, an unknown man appeared unexpectantly at his home, claiming that he worked for the IRS. He asked his wife for all the documents related to the pending case, gave her his business card and said that her husband

would receive a check shortly in the amount of 5,000 dollars. The check came a few days later, as the man had said. Weeks later, Francisco and his wife went looking for the man who helped solve this case using the information contained on the business card he had left for them. They arrived at the address on the card, but they were told nobody by that name worked there.

Francisco is a humble and poor man, and very devoted to Gallegos. Another time, he was struggling to pay his monthly rent. He had gone to Our Lady of Pillar Church (Santa Ana), because there he volunteers in different services. That day he went to the parish hall "Santa Monica", to prepare food for the feast of Divine Mercy and after the gathering was busy picking up and putting everything in order when a man he did not know approached him and said to him: "Francisco how are you?; and without further ado, he gave him an envelope, and said “put it in your pocket; don't worry, this is for you”. Francisco in those days had little money and was worried about not being able to pay his rent.

The man left went around Mount Carmel Hall, and Francisco went to Santa Monica Hall to continue cleaning up. When Francisco saw that there was leftover food he ran out to invite the mysterious man to eat. He went to the parking lot looking for him but the man was gone.

When Francisco went home he opened the envelope and the money contained in it was exactly what he needed to pay his rent. Francisco believes it was the intercession of Bishop Gallegos, an angel of God.

For several weeks after this incident Francisco looked for the mysterious man among the faithful in various Masses and in the parish groups of Our Lady of Pilar. He has never seen him again.

MAY 24: PRIESTHOOD ORDINATION OF ALFONSO GALLEGOS 62 YEARS AGO

Alfonso Gallegos was ordained a priest in Tagaste Monastery in Suffern, New York, on May 24, 1958, after much discussion as to whether he be ordained or not, due to his visual problems: severe myopia. His first 14 years as a priest were spent in Tagaste, because they did not dare assign him a ministry outside the monastery due to his poor eyesight. Until 1972, he was appointed pastor of the parish where he had been an altar boy, San Miguel, in Watts, Los Angeles, California.

During his early years as a priest in New York, he was a student prefect, chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital, chaplain of religious sisters, serving as a doorman and answering the phone. In these humble services, Friar Alfonso was already beginning to create a reputation of sanctity. This is what the witnesses who knew him in Tagaste, and who spoke for his cause of canonization, affirm:

“When I met him, I recognized that he was doing a good job attending the door or answering the phone. He was very attentive and polite. Later I realized that he had a visual problem of some kind. I never asked him and he never mentioned it to me. He never alluded to that. He never worried about himself, but about me. I'm sure that's the impression other people had of him. Whoever he spoke to, his main concern was the person in front of him. ”

“I think he was able to make the person of Jesus present through his love for people. He was happy and knew how to connect with people. There was truly an innocence about him that was holy."

“What impressed me most about him was his love, the way he approached people. You ended up feeling his love, his holiness. He was a holy man. He touched our souls, our hearts, with his love, compassion and understanding.”