Many United States citizens are descendants of immigrants, including Pope Leo XIV, as he recently said,

“My own story is that of a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate. All of us, in the course of our lives, can find ourselves healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country, yet our dignity always remains unchanged: it is the dignity of a creature willed and loved by God….no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.” (Papal Audience, May 16, 2025)

Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, an American born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a descendant of immigrants, had a congruent approach to that of the new Pope, ensuring that all human life was treated with dignity and respect, from citizens and immigrants alike.

There are moments in our lives and in history when we look for heroes who can inspire us, human beings living meaningfully in the service of others, defending justice and human dignity. Bishop Alphonse Gallegos could thus be considered a hero, motivated to love others, no matter race, nationality, or creed; his life echoed the Golden Rule “Treat others as you want to be treated.”

Bishop Gallegos, fondly remembered as “Bishop Al”, dedicated his life and ministry to serving and uplifting all, particularly the California’s Hispanic community, especially immigrants and migrant workers. He championed their cause, advocating for their rights and tirelessly working to improve their lives and working conditions. 

A Life Dedicated to Service

Gallegos was a man of compassion. He understood the struggles faced by marginalized communities, growing up in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles and serving at San Miguel Church as pastor. As a priest his mission went beyond the church walls. He loved to be out in the community, meeting people to be of service to them. As auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Sacramento, Gallegos regularly visited the migrant camps in Northern California. He worked alongside migrant workers, and he wanted to experience firsthand their struggles to better advocate for them. When he visited the migrant camps, he met with families, making sure that their material and spiritual needs were being met, but most of all, to remind them that they were not forgotten by the Church nor their Bishop. As stated by a witness for his cause of canonization:

“His dedication to the people in the migrant camps was extraordinary in my opinion, because our bishops are so busy. Bishop Gallegos was able to make as much time as possible to go to these families at the camps; he visited them and ate with them. He would celebrate Mass for them. He would just make himself available to them. He wanted to include them and let them know that they were welcomed into our diocese.”

Championing Immigrant Rights

Bishop Gallegos looked into the eyes of immigrants, he saw their humanity, their struggles, and their hope for better living conditions in the United States. Gallegos advocated for the rights of immigrants and migrants against discriminatory policies, marched in solidarity with the United Farm Workers together with Cesar Chavez, the labor leader and civil rights activist, best known for his work organizing farm workers and advocating for their rights.  In 1979, he was appointed as the first director of the Division of Hispanic Affairs for the California Catholic Conference, a position that allowed him to address civic and church leaders about the needs of the growing Hispanic population in the United States.

A Legacy of Love and Compassion

Love and compassion moved Bishop Gallegos to speak up for the poor and the immigrants. As stated by another witness for his cause of canonization:

“His heart was very much with those who did not have a voice and so he was involved with the poor, the immigrants, immigrant issues and with the farm workers. He looked at the people who were on the margin. He looked at the people who were poor and felt he needed to speak on their behalf.”

“Bishop Al” was a wonderful human being who loved everyone. Gallegos’ episcopal motto was, “Love one another,” which sums up his life and service to others, especially the most vulnerable in society, the unborn, the poor and the immigrants. May the life and legacy of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos be an inspiration of hope for all, most especially for immigrants and those who advocate for them, because as Pope Leo has said, “no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable…citizens and immigrants alike.”