Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, who died in a 1991 highway accident at age 60, must have two miracles – ones that can be documented and verified – attributed to him to be eligible for sainthood. Church officials believe moving Gallegos' body will help his cause.

After 19 years in a crypt at Sacramento's St. Mary's Cemetery, the body of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos will be moved across town.

Today the priest's remains will be exhumed and transferred to a church where he once served, all part of the ongoing effort to make the popular Sacramento auxiliary bishop the city's first saint.

His casket will be on display for the public to pay respects until Saturday.

"People can come and pray and quietly ask for his intercession," said the Rev. Eliseo Gonzalez, a member of the Augustinian Recollects, Gallegos' religious order that is promoting Gallegos for sainthood.

Gallegos will be moved to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament today. On Thursday, a funeral procession will take him to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, a Latino parish where Gallegos worked as a priest. All-night vigils are planned.

On Saturday, Bishop Jaime Soto will preside over a noon Mass for Gallegos. Afterward, his remains will be placed in a recently built tomb inside the sanctuary.

Church officials believe moving Gallegos' body will help his cause for sainthood. They hope that one day a miracle – one that can be documented and verified – will be attributed to him. Proof of two miracles is required for him to be declared a saint.

"To date, there are many favors but no authenticated miracles," Gonzalez said.

Moving the remains of a church leader has been done only once before in the diocese. More than 100 years ago, church officials transferred the remains of Bishop Eugene O'Connell, Sacramento's first bishop, from Los Angeles to Sacramento.

Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, who died in a 1991 highway accident at age 60, must have two miracles – ones that can be documented and verified – attributed to him to be eligible for sainthood. Church officials believe moving Gallegos' body will help his cause.

After 19 years in a crypt at Sacramento's St. Mary's Cemetery, the body of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos will be moved across town.

Today the priest's remains will be exhumed and transferred to a church where he once served, all part of the ongoing effort to make the popular Sacramento auxiliary bishop the city's first saint.

His casket will be on display for the public to pay respects until Saturday.

"People can come and pray and quietly ask for his intercession," said the Rev. Eliseo Gonzalez, a member of the Augustinian Recollects, Gallegos' religious order that is promoting Gallegos for sainthood.

Gallegos will be moved to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament today. On Thursday, a funeral procession will take him to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, a Latino parish where Gallegos worked as a priest. All-night vigils are planned.

On Saturday, Bishop Jaime Soto will preside over a noon Mass for Gallegos. Afterward, his remains will be placed in a recently built tomb inside the sanctuary.

Church officials believe moving Gallegos' body will help his cause for sainthood. They hope that one day a miracle – one that can be documented and verified – will be attributed to him. Proof of two miracles is required for him to be declared a saint.

"To date, there are many favors but no authenticated miracles," Gonzalez said.

Moving the remains of a church leader has been done only once before in the diocese. More than 100 years ago, church officials transferred the remains of Bishop Eugene O'Connell, Sacramento's first bishop, from Los Angeles to Sacramento.

Nearly 19 years after his death, the body of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos will be exhumed from St. Mary's cemetery next month and moved to a downtown church as part of his journey toward sainthood.

Church officials agreed Friday to move Gallegos to Sacramento's Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish on March 27. Bishop Jaime Soto will preside over the special Mass.

Supporters believe moving Gallegos' remains to the parish will help church members ask the late bishop for his intercession or for favors.

"We're hoping that one day, a miracle will happen that can be documented and verified," said the Rev. Eliseo Gonzalez, a member of the Augustinian Recollects, Gallegos' religious order that is promoting Gallegos for sainthood. Proof of two miracles is required for him to be declared a saint.

Church officials will begin building a tomb for Gallegos at the parish this week.

Gallegos served at the Spanish-speaking parish, and many remember him. "He was beloved," said the Rev. Lino Otero. "Now he will be inside the church, the first time that has happened in Sacramento."

Moving the remains of a church leader has been done just once before in the diocese. Bishop Eugene O'Connell, Sacramento's first bishop, was moved from Los Angeles to Sacramento after he died more than 100 years ago.

Gallegos, the auxiliary Catholic bishop, died in 1991. He is moving closer to becoming Sacramento's first saint. The bishop, an unofficial chaplain to lowriders and migrant workers, passed the first step toward canonization last year.

The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento began the beatification process in December 2005. Rome church leaders granted the decree of validity to Gallegos' cause last year, declaring him "a servant of God."