The Augustinian Recollect Family, the Catholic Network EWTN, the Recollect Bishop of Tarazona (Zaragoza) and the current Bishop of Sacramento (California, United States) have brought to this institution of higher education the figure, life and testimony of the Venerable Bishop, on the path to sainthood.
The Hall of Degrees San Pablo CEU University in Madrid embraced this past April 19th, at seven in the evening, an act organized by the Pastoral Department of the University, the Augustinian Recollect Family and the Catholic Network EWTN, with the presentation of a documentary about Alphonse Gallegos (1931-1991) and a round table.
Jose Carlos Gonzalez, president of EWTN-Spain, outlined in the act the object and characteristics of the network, born in the USA in the early 1980’s. He also did the same with the series “They Might be Saints”, which recreates the biographies of candidates in the process of beatification. EWTN began their journey in Spain a little over a year ago and is in the launching and presentation phase before the local society.
The central character of the documentary that was broadcast in the room was the Augustinian Recollect Alphonse Gallegos (1931-1991), Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento (California, United States), whose apostolic life was dedicated to the Hispanic immigrants in the United States and young people, with special attention to those who were most at risk of being inducted into gangs.
Following a special pre-recorded greeting from the current Bishop of Sacramento, Jaime Soto, in the round table participated Friar Sergio Sánchez, Prior Provincial of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine; Bishop Eusebio Hernández, Augustinian Recollect Bishop of Tarazona (Zaragoza, Spain); Friar Eliseo González, Vice-Postulator for the cause of canonization of Venerable Gallegos.
Sergio Sanchez began with a personal note, remembering the experiences of his sister Maria Teresa, who worked for five years with Bishop Gallegos. He then briefly surveyed the main theological dimensions of holiness: as a union with God, the only Saint, and its expression through charity as a donation. He also wanted to highlight some of Pope Francis’ master lines about holiness.
Bishop Eusebio Hernandez spoke from his experience about the richness and challenges a Bishop of a religious order faces and its personal, relational and care implications for priests. He highlighted the need to establish and nurture a cordial relationship and an essential atmosphere for human warmth. Given the special dedication of Bishop Gallegos to Hispanic immigrants, there aroused emotion with the passionate account of the joint activity of the Diocese and the City of Tarazona with the Ukrainian refugees in recent weeks.
Friar Eliseo González, promoter of the event and Vice-Postulator of Bishop Gallegos’ cause, presented pictures of the bishop’s life and the main milestones of the canonization process. In 2016 he was recognized as Venerable and who heroically lived the Christian virtues.
There was a good number of attendees at the event from the university where the event was being held, but also from the Augustinian Recollect Family: both men and women religious from communities located in Madrid, as well as the twenty novices that the Order of Augustinian Recollects has in the novitiate house of Monteagudo, in Navarra.
This article originally appeared on the website of the Augustinian Recollects.