Step one in building Mary Star of the Sea High School's new $19 million state-of-the-art campus was celebrated Nov. 12 at a festive liturgy and groundbreaking ceremony attended by more than 1,500 people.

Msgr. Royal Vadakin, vicar general and moderator of the curia, presided at the ceremony, whose concelebrants included Msgr. Patrick Gallagher, pastor of Mary Star of the Sea Church, and Norbertine Father Nicholas Tacito, rector of Mary Star of the Sea High School. Also present were neighboring pastors Msgr. David Sork, of St. John Fisher Church in Rancho Palos Verdes and Msgr. Patrick Thompson, of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church in Lomita.

The ceremony on the 28-acre site atop the bluffs on San Pedro began with a concert of live music and choral singing.

"As this dream for our children's future now begins to take shape, I am deeply mindful of the early generosity of foundations, businesses, families and individuals that have urged us forward," wrote Msgr. Gallagher in a letter to parishioners and project supporters. "Without your early support, the dream would have remained just that. Because of you, we have something much greater here."

The parish received the land from the U.S. Navy's property surplus in exchange for a $300,000 donation to the Harbor Women's Shelter in San Pedro. Over the years the parish worked to remove asbestos contaminated housing from the site, which is now valued at $25 million.

Through capital campaigns, over $9 million was raised towards the building of the new school with another $9 million secured in loans.

The first phase of buildings, expected to be completed in January 2006, will include the main classroom building to accommodate 600 students, a temporary gymnasium and locker room structure and roads, parking lots and landscaping. The high school was first established in the early 1950s, serving for 16 years (1959-75) as a girls school, but reverting to a coeducational school with the closing of Fermin Lasuen High School for boys in 1975.

"We now have 460 students attending the high school, which is about 60 more than we should have in the building, and we currently have a waiting list of students," said Msgr. Gallagher. "We have about 5,700 families in our parish and growing."

Currently Mary Star of the Sea High School is the only small school option in the L.A. Harbor area. This building project will eliminate the overcrowding and waiting list students are now faced with.

"Because of its small size, the faculty can personally address students and their individual learning needs," noted school officials. "Greater academic success is achieved and the small size also encourages every student to participate in school activities and to grow as a whole person."

Officials say that the new school was planned with these goals in mind and the student population will not exceed 600.