Bishop Gallegos was the son of José Gallegos - carpenter - and his wife Caciana. The Gallegos family had a great devotion to Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the family. So much so that the family gathered every year on March 19, the liturgical feast of St Joseph, to celebrate it with all their neighbors. The Gallegos prayed to Saint Joseph frequently, so Alfonso developed this devotion at a very young age.

Alfonso entered the Order of Augustinians Recollects in 1950, in which from the first moments of its history a special devotion to St. Joseph was cultivated and is considered special protector of the Order, therefore, Alfonso was able to continue strengthening his devotion to the Holy Patriarch. In fact, Alfonso, when he made his simple profession in 1951, chose Saint Joseph as his personal patron, so Alfonso would always be united to St. Joseph: Friar Alfonso Gallegos of Saint Joseph. After completing his formation process to become a priest, he became Father Alfonso Gallegos of Saint Joseph, staying faithful to his favorite saint.

According to witnesses of Bishop Alfonso's cause of canonization, the virtues of Bishop Alfonso resemble some of those described by Pope Francis in the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, typical of the Holy Patriarch.

Pope Francis writes: "St. Joseph was a tender and loving father." According to the testimony of Father Salvador Gómez, L.C., former parish priest of the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Sacramento, California, where Gallegos served for many years, the faithful commented on Gallegos:

Pope Francis says of the husband of the Virgin Mary that St Joseph was a creatively courageous father.

Bishop Gallegos suffered from severe visual problems throughout his life. But instead of being overcome by illness or discouragement, he used creative means to overcome this difficulty and never complained. He sought to better himself as a person by expanding his studies, obtaining a Master's Degree in psychology and education. He was always obedient to God's will, accepting the call to be a religious, a priest, and a bishop, while overcoming the challenges of his lack of vision. He was creative in his approach to God's people, making himself present by all means possible.

Among other qualities that the Pope emphasizes in the "silent saint" is that he was a hardworking father. 

Quote:

Bishop Gallegos learned from his parents the value of work. Gallegos was a tireless worker, who fought for justice alongside César Chavez and the United Farm Workers, for all who work in unjust conditions, especially migrant farmworkers. He saw the good they did in the midst of harsh working conditions, providing society with the necessary food.

He was tireless and selflessly gave himself to others. Kathleen Martineau witnessed first-hand the selfless work of Gallegos as chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, while caring for her mother and saying: