In 1914, Father Patrick McGrath — “as an act of deep faith, hope and love” — remodeled the old Mary Star of the Sea Church on Ninth Street in San Pedro. 

“With his vision and just a few castoff desks from the basement of St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School came into being,” notes the school’s written history, a history that officially reached the centennial mark Sept. 7 with a community celebration.

Archbishop José Gomez presided at Mass, with San Pedro Region Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis and Father Maurice Harrigan, Mary Star of the Sea pastor, among the concelebrating priests. L.A. City Councilman Joe Buiscaino, a Mary Star parishioner, was among the civic officials welcomed by principal Noreen Maricich, teachers, staff and students. (More photos: www.angelusnews.com.)