What a great day for the Saint Mary’s Family! The entire school community, 700 strong, gathered in the new bright-red bleachers, with stunning views of the Berkeley hills and Cal’s Campanile to the East and a virtually unobstructed view of the entire Golden Gate due West. Together, we welcomed with deep appreciation many of the hundreds of donors who made possible our brand new, beautiful track and field complex — Thomas M. Brady Park. Three generations of the Brady family, many school alumni among them, were on hand to christen the new facility and to join in honoring Tom Brady, Sr., a true Saint Mary’s icon whose life and work at the school span more than sixty years.

Principal Pete Imperial opened the ceremony with a prayer of thanks, and the school band played the National Anthem from their new location at the east end of the bleachers, confusing some of the alumni band members in the crowd who’d for decades cheered on the Panthers with “The Horse” and “The Bells” from the opposite end. Brother Edmond, President, and seniors Randy Khalil, Ashley Davis, and Kellen Asercion shared their thanks on behalf of the school, and Tom Brady reflected on the new life the track and field would bring to Saint Mary’s, receiving a standing ovation. Since entering the sixth grade at the Brothers’ grammar school on the Peralta Park campus in 1947, Tom has been a big part of the school, retiring as its first lay president in 1995 to continue his lifelong work in Lasallian education with the Christian Brothers’ District administration at Mont La Salle in Napa. It was Tom who opened the doors to coeducation after 132 years, and it was in great part due to the generosity of the Brady family that Brady Park was made possible.

Father Jayson Landeza ’79 and Mr. Brady were joined on the red and white “SM” logo at the center of the field by Deacon Jorge Angel, Job Superintendent for the Brady Park project since the groundbreaking in May 2008. Together the men blessed the new facility with holy water and returned a little of the old field’s soil to the new surface to bring the project full circle.

After a rousing rendition of “The Bells of Saint Mary’s,” the crowd cheered as the band played “The Horse” to the delight of many of the alums on hand for the day. Nearly 150 guests — alumni, parents, foundation members, alumni parents, former faculty members and coaches, and friends of the school whose generosity built Brady Park, enjoyed a ballpark lunch in the Shea Center while the entire student body gathered in the Cross plaza for hot dogs and chips.

After eight months of construction, a perfect day signaling a new beginning for Saint Mary’s ended with cheers for the Panther girls’ soccer team in their 7-0 victory over Kennedy High in the first-ever competition on the new field, as a brilliant red sun set over the Golden Gate and a full moon rose over the Berkeley Hills.

At 1:15, Brother Edmond greeted everyone and thanked them for their generously and commitment to this important project. Brother reminded everyone that there was still work to be to done to get the remaining  funds needed to meet the $6 million dollar cost. Brother also gave special recognition to Tom Brady and his family for their deep commitment.

Father Jason Lanzena gave a special prayer and blessing for the project. Following Father’s prayer and blessing, a series of photos were taken of the many guests with Tom Brady.

The event came to an end with the Brothers inviting all the guests back to their home for cake.

This was a great day in the history of Saint Mary’s!