Reverend Alejandro Magallanes, O.F.M. Cap., died Wednesday, December 21, 2022. He was 61 years old.

Fr. Alejandro was a religious order priest who was ordained on December 20, 1969, for the Capuchin Franciscan. While serving as a priest in the archdiocese these were his assignments:

  • Teacher, Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana
  • Associate Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Los Angeles
  • Pastor, St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church, Los Angeles
  • Administrator, Associate Pastor, Old Mission Santa Ines, Solvang
  • Resident, St. Francis High School, La Cañada Flintridge
  • Resident, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Ynez
  • Resident, St. John of God Retirement, Los Angeles

Fr. Alejandro Magallanes was born in Los Angeles on January 12, 1943, the son of Francisco Magallanes and Ofelia Serrano. He entered the Capuchin order on August 31, 1961 at Wilmington, Delaware, where he received the habit. He professed his solemn vows on September 1, 1965.  He was ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1969, at St. Bede Church in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA.

He graduated from St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge in 1961, and received a Master of Arts in Theology from Maryknoll College in New York. After ordination he taught religion at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA. He was then assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Los Angeles as associate pastor in 1971. He was the first friar of the province to make a Marriage Encounter.

In 1977 Fr. Alejandro returned to Santa Ana to be the province’s first Postulancy Director. In 1982 he was pastor of St. Lawrence of Brindisi Parish in Los Angeles. In 1985 he was one of the co-founders and Guardian of our new mission in Yécora, Sonora, Mexico. In 1988 he was Associate Pastor of Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, CA. In 1993 he was chaplain at Fresno University Medical Center. He did preaching ministry while residing at St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge in 2003, and the following year, he became assistant retreat director at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, CA.

In 2007, Fr. Alejandro was diagnosed with brain cancer and was given 6 months to live. He was told that his type of cancer was 95% deadly. He survived 15 years more and was lovingly cared for at St. John of God Care Center in Los Angeles. Br. Tran Vu and Tony Driscoll also cared for him with great love and were wonderful instruments of grace for him.

Funeral arrangements are as follows: Rosary Monday, January 2, at 7 p.m. at Old Mission Santa Ines, 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA. Mass of Christian Burial is Tuesday, January 3, at 11 a.m., also at Old Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. Burial is at San Lorenzo Friary, 1802 Sky Drive, Santa Ynez, CA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Fr. Alejandro to the Capuchin Franciscan Order, 1345 Cortez Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010.

In charity and kindness, please remember Fr. Alejandro Magallanes, O.F.M. Cap., in your Masses and prayers.