One Year Later:

Celebration of the conclusion of the diocesan phase
of the cause of Beatification and Canonization of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR

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It was a relief to get away from New York just as the cold weather was setting in, and to get a mini-reprieve by a visit to sunny California. My thoughts, however, were on more than just the weather on that Friday, November 3, as the plane lifted off from Newark Liberty Airport and headed west. The purpose of my trip was to take part, along with my Recollect brothers, in the formal closing of the diocesan phase of the cause for the beatification and canonization of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR, which was set to take place at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Sacramento on Sunday, November 5, 2006. After a five-and-a-half hour flight, it was good to see the familiar face of Br. Jorge Valdivia at the baggage carousel in LAX, waiting to take me up the coast to Oxnard. We arrived at St. Augustine Priory around mid-afternoon, and were scheduled to leave for Sacramento the following day. It was definitely déjà vu. Less than one year earlier on December 4, 2005, I had made an almost identical trip to attend the opening of the Gallegos cause.

The similarities continued in the details of our trip from Oxnard to Sacramento. Once again, the plan was to get an early start. Even though, this time, we were arriving the day before the celebration, we had an eight hour drive ahead of us, so we had to get moving ASAP. There were fifteen of us going from the Priory, including Fr. Charles Huse (Prior Provincial), Fr. John Oldfield, many of the friars from the house, the students, and me. Joining our “caravan” were Fr. Luis Ramírez and several others from Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Santa Ana, and family members of Fr. Eliseo González. Traveling separately by plane or car were Frs. Joachim and Paul Goñi, James McGuire, and Galo Espinosa, accompanied by several parishioners from Cristo Rey Parish in Los Angeles. Fr. González, Secretary/Notary for the cause, and Fr. Samson (“Sammy”) Silloriquez, OAR, Postulator General of the Order, were already in Sacramento attending to last minute details of the ceremony.

On the day of our departure we celebrated an early Mass (6:00 AM) at which Fr. Domingos Machado, the local prior, presided, praying that we would have a safe trip “on our pilgrimage to Sacramento.” Afterward, there was time for coffee and a quick bite to eat before piling ourselves and our overnight bags, along with lots of water and some snacks, into the house vans and hitting the freeways. Our route was quite direct, exiting Ventura County along scenic Route 126 with its abundance of citrus trees, and then following Interstate 5, the main north-south interstate highway in California, all the way to Sacramento. Once we had passed through the mountains surrounding Los Angeles, California’s enormous Central ( San Joaquín) Valley stretched out endlessly before us. There was plenty of time to talk, observe the sights, reflect—or sleep—along the way.

It was amazing how quickly the year had passed and how much had been accomplished, thanks, in large measure, to the continuing labors of Fr. Silloriquez, who represented the cause of Bishop Gallegos before the Vatican, Fr. González, who worked tirelessly recording and transcribing the testimonies of those who had known Bishop Al, and Fr. Oldfield, who authored Bishop of the Barrio, published by Paulist Press in both English and Spanish. The Augustinian Recollects also owe a debt of gratitude to the continuing support and encouragement of Bishop William Weigand and the clergy of the Diocese of Sacramento, who are most favorably disposed to furthering the cause of Bishop Gallegos.

Having stopped for lunch about midway along the way, we arrived in Sacramento around 2:45 PM and shortly afterward checked into our “favorite” motel, the Capitol Travel Lodge, located only about three blocks from the cathedral, where the Mass for Bishop Gallegos would be held the following day at 1:00 PM. Having some free time and not being particularly hungry, the group decided to visit the two churches where Bishop Al had been in residence during his time in Sacramento: Our Lady of Guadalupe, and St. Rose, both only a short distance by car from the motel. Our first stop was OL of Guadalupe, the national shrine of the “Patroness of the Americas,” which contained a large memorial plaque of Bishop Gallegos, one of its most outstanding pastors. Painted an eye-popping pink, the church was constructed in the Southwest mission style. A huge banner over the door announced that there would be a menudo and tamale breakfast the following day . . . It was just about dusk when we reached our second stop, St. Rose, which was a complex of buildings consisting of the church and a school, joined by a beautiful, elaborate cloister, reminiscent of our novitiate cloister in Monteagudo, Spain. There we met Msgr. Edward Cavanaugh, who had been stationed at St. Rose for an incredible 50 years and had been a close friend of Bishop Al . . . The evening concluded with a very satisfying Asian buffet where the staff cleared a number of tables to accommodate our large, by now hungry group, everyone going back for second or even third helpings.

The following morning, the day of the closing celebration, was free time. Some took the opportunity to have a leisurely breakfast in one of a number of small cafes surrounding Bishop Gallegos Plaza, which was framed by the cathedral on one side and the grounds of the state capitol building on the other—an ample, tree-covered pedestrian walkway, containing the large memorial statue of the “Bishop of the Barrio.” By about 12:30 PM everyone began to assemble in the cathedral vesting area, located directly below the main church, to prepare for the entrance procession of the Mass. In addition to Bishop Weigand, Auxiliary Bishop Richard Garcia was on hand to act as co-celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Joining the Ordinary and his Auxiliary were the Recollect and diocesan priests who had come for the occasion. Deacon Ascención Esqueda, OAR, accompanied Bishop Weigand at the liturgy. The Mass, celebrated in Spanish, was that of the day, the 31 st Sunday in Ordinary Time, with the principle celebrants being vested in green. The newly renovated cathedral presented a medley of brilliant colors, shining wood, and polished marbles, providing a fitting background for the exquisite pipe organ that accompanied us in our entrance hymn, Cristo Libertador.

When the procession had reached the altar and all had taken their places, Bishop Weigand greeted the large and enthusiastic congregation, welcoming them to the celebration of the Eucharist and inviting them to participate in the ceremony marking the closing of the first phase in the process of beatification and canonization of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos. As at the opening ceremony the previous year, members of the Gallegos family were involved in the liturgy, acting as lectors and bringing up the offertory gifts. After the readings, Fr. González gave a concise but beautiful summary in Spanish and English of what had been accomplished over the past year regarding the investigation and collection of information for the Cause. He also thanked all those who had helped and supported this work. Bishop Garcia then delivered the bilingual homily, in which he spoke about the extraordinary life and work of Bishop Gallegos. The Mass then continued as usual, concluding with the final blessing and dismissal.

At that point a table, covered by a full-length red cloth, was brought to the front of the altar and chairs were provided for the bishop and the other members of the Tribunal including the Judge-delegate, the Promoter of Justice, the Postulator, and Secretary/Notary. The ceremony opened with the presentation by Frs. Huse, Oldfield, and I of three large boxes to the Tribunal containing the official documents (“Actas”) gathered during the opening phase of the investigation. Everyone then joined in singing the Veni Creator Spiritus. Upon completion of the hymn, there was a formal dialogue in which the “Actas” were authenticated, and Frs. Silloriquez and González were authorized to bring copies of the documents to Rome (the originals remaining in Sacramento) for presentation to the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints. Before concluding, the “Actas” were signed and closed with the traditional wax seal by the members of the Tribunal. At that point the congregation as well as all those officiating broke into thunderous and prolonged applause. Fr. Charles Huse, Prior Provincial of St. Augustine Province, then offered words of thanks in both Spanish and English to Bishop Weigand, members of the Tribunal, and all present, expressing the joy of the occasion and offering the hope that the cause of Bishop Gallegos would continue to make progress. The ceremony closed with the singing of the traditional hymn of thanksgiving, Holy God we praise thy name.

Following the conclusion of the Mass a reception was held in the cathedral hall with a catered buffet of light refreshments being served. Prominent among the guests who joined in the reception were members of the Gallegos family, many parishioners from San Miguel in Watts, the AR Sisters and SAR fraternity from Milpitas, and many other friends of Bishop Al and of the Augustinian Recollects. Fr. Oldfield took the opportunity to set up a display of his newly published book, Bishop of the Barrio, the people present readily purchasing copies for themselves and other family members and friends.

By now, time was pressing heavily on us with another eight hour ride ahead of us on the return trip to Oxnard. At 4:30 PM, therefore, we said our good-byes and made our way back to the motel where the vans were already packed and ready to go. The sun was just setting as we left Sacramento and it was dark long before we reached Oxnard. We stopped for something to eat around 10:00 PM and arrived back at the Priory shortly before midnight . . .

The Twentieth Provincial Chapter of St. Augustine Province has admonished us (Determination No. 8) to support ". . . the promotion of the process of beatification and canonization initiated on behalf of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR." Having experienced the enthusiasm, the joy, and the hope engendered by our November 5 celebration in Sacramento, I feel that it is certainly necessary for each of the members of the Augustinian Recollect family to take up this Cause as his or her own, helping to assure "that the good work which has begun will be brought to a successful conclusion."

Fr. John Gruben, OAR