He was born in Havana (Cuba) on February 12, 1820 and made his Religious Profession in the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God at the age of 15.

He entered the Camagüey community when still young and remained there for more than 54 years, faithful to his Religious consecration to hospitality despite huge difficulties. He found the strength to live faithfully, practising charity through the contemplation of Christ crucified. His “dearest brothers” were poor homeless people, slaves and prisoners, abandoned children and the old, the sick, lepers and the dying. During the cholera and smallpox epidemics he devoted himself in a spirit of abnegation to caring for the victims, without ever becoming infected himself. He lived a humble life of poverty, but rich in virtue and apostolic witness.

He returned to the Father’s house on March 7, 1889 at Camagüey. Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him Blessed and the beatification ceremony was held on November 29, 2008 in Camagüey, Cuba.

Almighty Father, who in the life of Blessed José OLALLO (Valdés) have given us a wonderful example of your mercy shown towards the sick and needy, grant that through his intercession, inflamed by your love, we can imitate our Lord Jesus, the Good Samaritan, who is God and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit , world without end.

Amen.