Saint Mary's Celebrates 150 Years Of All Things Gael

Saint Mary’s College of California is “Gaelebrating" its 150th anniversary, proclaiming its 2012-13 academic year the "Year of the Gael" and hosting a series of free public events, forums and performances in honor of the school's history.

Locals may know that Saint Mary’s first opened its doors in San Francisco -- in the same year the battle of Gettysburg was being fought on Pennsylvania farmland back east. Since 1868, the College has been guided by the Christian Brothers, the Catholic Church’s oldest order dedicated exclusively to teaching. Saint Mary's moved to Oakland in 1889 and operated there until 1928, when it relocated to its current location in Moraga.

The College will officially start its 150th anniversary year with a Sesquicentennial Mass on September 15, 2012 in homage to Saint Mary’s Catholic mission and Bay Area history and the public is invited.

Gaelebration!, the College's free public festival and open house, will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 6, 2012 with guests treated to a campus carnival featuring children's rides and a seven-story Ferris wheel. Tours of the campus, performances by the school's music, theater and dance departments and food trucks will also be available, along with acknowledgements by visiting dignitaries and proclamations by federal, state and local officials.

A website has been created to help spread the news.

When: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, October 6, 2012
Where: Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Road, Moraga, CA 94556
Cost: Free and open to the public.

More Info: Public transportation is encouraged. Campus parking is limited.* However, satellite parking will be available, with free continuous shuttle services at Lafayette BART, the Rheem Center in Moraga and the Moraga Commons Park. Gaelebration tents will be at each location. *Handicapped parking is available on-site.