Alphonse Gallegos; Sacramento Bishop
Alphonse Gallegos, Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Sacramento since 1981 and a former pastor in Watts, has died at the age of 60.
Gallegos died Sunday night in an automobile accident in Sacramento, his diocese announced Monday.
Born Feb. 20, 1931, in Albuquerque, N.M., Gallegos grew up in Watts. He was educated at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Tomas College and St. John University in New York and Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. He held master’s degrees in psychology, education, religious studies and inner-city education.
He was ordained a priest for the Order of Augustinian Recollects on May 24, 1958, in Sufferen, N.Y.
In Los Angeles, Gallegos served as archdiocesan adviser of education and was pastor of San Miguel Church in Watts and Cristo Rey Church. Before his appointment in Sacramento, Gallegos was director of the California Catholic Conference’s division of Hispanic affairs.
He is survived by a twin brother, Eloy, and eight other siblings, all of Southern California.
A vigil is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday in Sacramento’s Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday.
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