|
Father Albert (Robert) Gallegos O.S.M., age 70, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta, NM, peacefully joined Our Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 15, 2007. Father Gallegos a native of Jarales, NM, served as a priest in the Order of Servants of Mary for 42 years. St. Mary's was a stepping-stone for his Catholic education. He attended the Seminary of the Servite Fathers of Hillside, IL. Father Gallegos continued his spiritual training at the Novitiate in Grandville, Wisconsin where he took the name Albert. Father Albert studied philosophy in Northern Ireland and returned to the U.S. to receive his BA degree at Loyola University. He also received M.A. degrees from Loyola University and Governors State University in Illinois. He was ordained as a Priest in the Servite Order at Santa Fe in 1964. After ordination he was assigned to teach at St. Phillip's High School in Chicago. Father Albert was later assigned to Mater Dolorosa Seminary as Assistant Master of Students and Instruction. He returned to St. Phillip's High School and continued his studies at Loyola University. Father Albert taught at North Eastern Illinois University, Malcolm X College, and The University of New Mexico. Father Albert serves as Chaplin at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, Trinity High School in River Forest and Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester. Father Albert's journalistic talents included writing a bi-lingual column for The New World. His articles were featured in the Chicago Sun Times, the National Catholic Reporter and the NC News Service in Washington, D.C. He was founder and editor of the Catholic newspaper, The People of God in Albuquerque, NM. His bi-lingual books for children include, The Wise Old Owl of the Ballet, A Christmas Story, The Turtle That Didn't Want To Be a Turtle, God in My Pocket, Shalom, An Easter Story, and El Cocqui. His love for poetry was evident in all his works. Father Albert served as producer, writer and host for the Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe TV show. He also produced the children's video, Santa and the Flying Balloons a Christmas story. After serving as pastor of St. Donatus Church in Illinois, Father Albert returned to New Mexico to serve the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. He was assigned as Associate Pastor at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Alameda, Pastor of Holy Child Parish, Tijeras, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Albuquerque, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Fe, and was serving as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Peralta at the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ignacio and Stella Gallegos; brother, Moses; sisters, Carmen Flick and her husband, Bob, Norena (Diana) Baughman; Bernadette Gallegos; and brother-in-law, Abelino Sanchez. Father Albert is survived by his sister, Mary Sue Sanchez of Belen, NM; brothers, Alfred and his wife, Virgie of Jarales, Ignacio and his wife, Alicia of Carteret, NJ, Deacon Manuel and his wife, Theresa, Nestor and his wife, Francis, and Father David Gallegos O.S.M., all of Belen; sister-in-law, Aurelia Gallegos; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. Father Albert will lie in state at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 1:00 p.m. Following the Rosary in Peralta Father Albert will again lie in state at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 4:00 p.m. A final visitation will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, on Monday, March 19, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. with Father David Gallegos O.S.M. presiding. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Paul Lestor Sanchez, Douglas, Ignacio, Robert, and Charles Gallegos, Michael Flick, Audra Baca, and Regina Romero. Honorary pallbearers will be Father Albert's nieces and nephews. A memorial contribution may be made to the Catholic Foundation, 2201 San Pedro NE, Bldg #2, Ste 211, Albuquerque, NM, 87110. Include a note that the contribution is for the Father Albert Gallegos Endowment Fund for the St. Mary's School in Belen, NM. Please sign Father Albert's online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.
|
