Closing of the Diocesan Process of the Canonization of
the Servant of God
Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Sacramento, California
November 5, 2006

Presided by Most Rev. William Weigand
Bishop of Sacramento

 
Members of the Tribunal assemble around the table as ceremony begins:
(left to right) Fr. Gonzalez, Fr. Mark Richards (Promoter of Justice), Bishop Weigand, Fr David Deibel (Judge-Delegate),
and Fr. Samson Silloriquez (Postulator General)  

 

(When all the members of the Tribunal are assembled in the designated place the closing begins with the presentation and explanation of the ceremony)

Moderator:

The ceremony that we are going to celebrate now is very important because it means that the diocesan historical investigation, that has been very scrupulous, regarding the life, virtues, and supernatural gifts and, in particular, the reputation of holiness of the Servant of God, Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento has been successfully completed, according to what is required by the legislation and norms for the Causes of Canonization of the Saints. One hundred-thirty persons gave their testimonies. From now on the cause of canonization of Bishop Gallegos will depend directly on the Roman Congregation of the Saints, which will analyze and carefully study all the documentation so that, at the proper time, if all is approved, the Holy Father will be asked to promulgate the Decree concerning the Heroic Virtues, that will bring the Servant of God to the doors of beatification with the divine confirmation of a miracle worked through his intercession. Once beatified, another miracle is necessary for him to be declared a saint of the Universal Church.

Presiding over the Tribunal is his Excellency Bishop William Weigand. Along with him is the Judge-Delegate, Fr. David Deibel; the Promoter of Justice, Fr. Mark Richards; and the Secretary/Notary, Fr. Eliseo González, OAR. Assisting the Tribunal is the Postulator of the Cause, Fr. Samson Silloriquez, OAR.

Bishop: Let us invoke the Holy Spirit with the hymn:

Veni Creator Spiritus (attr: Rabanus Maurus)

Veni creator Spiritus, mentes tuórum visita,
Imple superna gratia, quae tu creasti pectora.

 Qui disceris Paraclitus, altissimi donum Dei
fons vivus ignis, caritas, et spiritualis unctio.

 Tu septiformis munere, digitus patérnae déxterae,
tu rite promíssum Patris, sermóne ditans gúttura.

Accende lumen sensibus, infunde amorem córdibus,
infirma nostri córporis, virtúte firmans pérpeti.

Hostem repellas longius, pacémque dones prótinus;
ductóre sic te práevio, vitémus omni nóxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem, noscámus atque Fílium,
Te utriús que Spíritum, credámus omni témpore.

Deo Patri sit Gloria, et Fílio qui a mortuis,
Surréxit, ac Paráclito, In saeculorum sácula. Amen.

Presentation of the original documents (“Actas”) and two copies of the same by three
representatives of the Augustinian Recollects.

Notary:

Your Excellency, as notary of the Tribunal that has carried out the process of canonization of the Servant of God, Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR, I have the pleasure to present to Your Excellency the original documents of the Process and two copies of the same.

Bishop:

(Directing his comments to the Promoter of Justice): Tell us, Promoter of Justice, if there is any objection to the original documents of the Process or against the copies of the same.

Promoter of Justice:

Your Excellency, as Promoter of Justice, I am happy to tell your Excellency that the entire Process has been carried out according to the norms of the current legislation of the Causes of the Saints. I have been able to attend all the sessions held by the tribunal in order to question the witnesses and gather the documentary evidence. I have examined and personally signed the original documents of the Process and I have verified the two copies of the same, which have been compared with the originals and I have no objections to them.

Bishop:

(He examines the original documents and the copies of the Process and, having consulted with the Judge-Delegate, says): As President of the Tribunal and with the authority that belongs to me, I declare authentic the two copies of the Process that have been presented to me.

Postulator:

Your Excellency, given that it is necessary to give the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints the two authentic copies of the documents of the Process, I ask Your Excellency to name the persons who are to bring these documents to Rome.

Bishop:

(consulting with the Judge and determining to name the people who are to bring the copies to Rome): After having consulted the Judge-Delegate that has carried out the Process we have decided to give the two authentic copies to Rev. Frs. Samson Silloriquez, Postulator of the cause, and Eliseo González, Secretary/Notary. Therefore we ask Frs. Silloriquez and González to indicate if they accept this responsibility and, if so, we direct that they take the required oath.

Postulator:

Your Excellency, we feel very honored by the confidence that has been given to us and accept with pleasure the duty of bringing to the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints the authentic copies of the Process. We now pledge gladly before Your Excellency and before the Tribunal the required oath. (Frs. Silloriquez and González, putting their hands on the Gospels, swear to bring the authentic copies of theProcess to the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints.)

We, Frs. Samson Silloriquez, and Eliseo González, assigned carriers of the Process concerning the life, virtues and reputation of sanctity of the Servant of God Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, commissioned in the city of Sacramento, swear to faithfully abide with the charge that has been given to us to deliver to Rome the two authentic copies of the heretofore mentioned Process and present them to the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints, together with the envelope containing the letters of the Bishop, of the Judge-Delegate, and of the Promoter of Justice and the instrument of the closing.

May God assist us and these holy Gospels help us.

Judge-Delegate:

The Tribunal, by order of His Excellence the Bishop, orders that the present session be concluded, and that everything has been accomplished thereby, and that, signed by all those who have taken part in it, that it be included in the documents of the Process and in the copies that are to be sent to Rome. At the same time it is decreed that the original Actas, closed, sealed, and stamped, be guarded carefully in the archives of the diocese and that no one venture open them without the express permission of the Bishop.

The Tribunal orders the Secretary/Notary to close, seal, and stamp both the original documents and the authentic copies of the same that will be given to those who will carry them to the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints.

Signatures:

(The Bishop and the members of the Tribunal sign the original minutes of the session and the copies of the same.)

Judge-Delegate:

(When all have signed the minutes, the Judge-Delegate says the following):

I ask the Secretary/Notary and his assistants to proceed to close, seal the boxes that contain the original documents of the Process and the authentic copies of the same.

(When the work of sealing the documents has been finished, he announces the closing of the Process with the following words):

As President of the Tribunal and in virtue of the faculties that pertain to me, I solemnly declare the closure of the diocesan process of canonization of the Servant of God Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, auxiliary bishop of this diocese. (He greets the civil authorities and family members, friends, and all of the faithful that have chosen to be present at this session of the closing of the diocesan process of beatification and canonization.)

 (Rev. Fr. Charles Huse, Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Recollects of St. Augustine Province offers some words of thanks.)  

(The ceremony of closing is concluded with the singing of the hymn of thanksgiving.)

Holy God we praise thy Name (Grosser Gott)

Holy God, we praise thy Name!
Lord of all, we bow before thee!
All on earth thy scepter claim,
all in heaven above adore thee!
Infinite thy vast domain,
everlasting is thy reign.

Hark the loud celestial hymn,
Angels choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and Seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord,
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord.  

Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit,
Three we name thee,
While in essence only One,
undivided God we claim thee,
And adoring bend the knee,
while we own the mystery.

 The Tribunal

Most Rev. William Keith Weigand
Judge

Fr. David Deibel	Judge-Delegate
Fr. Mark Richards	Promoter of Justice
Fr. Eliseo González	Secretary/Notary

Historical Commission

Fr. William Breault, SJ
Fr. John Oldfield, OAR

Theological Commission

Fr. Charles S. McDermott, STD
Fr. Blaise Berg, STD
Fr. James McGuire, OAR
Fr. Marlon Beof, OAR

Postulator

 Fr. Samson S. Silloriquez, OAR

Prayer

God our Father, in the person of your servant, Bishop Alphonse Gallegos OAR, you gave to your faithful a shepherd of the Church to feed your flock with his word and teach them through his example. We pray you, Father that his life of holiness and service to your people may be recognized, and that this faithful son of Our Lady of Guadalupe may be counted among the saints in your Kingdom. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be

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