YEARS BEFORE THE formation of the Diocese of Orange, most Catholic churches and elementary schools in Orange County came under the authority of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Once students aged out of Catholic elementary schools, however, there were no Catholic high schools in Orange County for these students to attend.
INSIDE A MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM, CIRCA 1950S. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL
That changed when Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, who served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1948 to 1970, wanted to establish a Catholic high school in Orange County. So, in 1950, Mater Dei High School opened in the heart of Santa Ana, becoming the first Catholic high school in the county.
During a time when large swaths of the county consisted of vast open spaces and farmland, Mater Dei opened with 111 students and 10 teachers. Jump ahead to the 2025–26 school year, when Mater Dei started the year with more than 1,800 students who come from 215 ZIP codes within five Southern California counties, making Mater Dei the largest Catholic high school in the county.
MATER DEI GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS DISCUSS GAME STRATEGY IN 1958.
Mater Dei has more than 30,000 alumni around the world and its graduates have made their mark in all areas of society, from classrooms to boardrooms to courtrooms to stadiums.
“One of the greatest blessings of my life has been witnessing how Mater Dei continues to shape young people who carry our Catholic mission into the world,” said Mater Dei principal Frances Clare, who began her career at Mater Dei in 1997, when she was a classroom teacher in the English department. Clare went on to become the department chair, then assistant principal and has served as principal since 2002.
“When I look at our Monarchs today, I see the same spirit that I saw in my students over 30 years ago — young people full of energy, talent, promise and hope,” Clare said. “While programs, facilities and teaching methods continue to evolve, our Catholic mission remains the same: to form young men and women who will go into the world ready to lead lives of faith, purpose and service.”
Notable Monarch alumni include Most Reverend Bishop Jaime Soto ‘74, bishop of Sacramento; Juan Zarate ’89, former deputy national security advisor to President George W. Bush; Annie Mumolo ’91, Oscar-nominated screenwriter and actress; Sara Hughes ’13, 2024 U.S. Olympic beach volleyball player; Fathers Steve Sallot and Joe Knerr ’72, and Fr. Michael Nguyen ’09. Many former Monarchs also followed their calling to religious life.
In athletics, Mater Dei has produced 10 Olympians, close to 400 league championship teams, nearly 120 CIF Southern Section championship teams, 10 national championship teams and 23 Gatorade Players of the Year. Mater Dei is also the only high school in the nation to have produced three Heisman Trophy winners: John Huarte ’61, Matt Leinart ’01, and Bryce Young ’20.
And most recently, the Mater Dei boys and girls soccer teams captured CIF state championships.
In 2000, Mater Dei launched a multiphase capital improvement campaign.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Completed projects from Phase I include construction of a parking lot, the Gordon & Gail Lee Family Chapel & Campus Ministry Center, the Antone & Anna Borchard Family Library, Academic Services Complex, the Reed & Angela LeVecke Student Activities Complex and Shamrock Plaza. In Phase II, an outdoor athletics complex was added, which includes a baseball stadium, track and two FieldTurf fields.
The Meruelo Athletic Center and William Lyon Aquatic Center were also added during Phase II.
Future projects include the construction of a performing arts center and a variety of campus and classroom upgrades.
Over the years, technology has transformed how Mater Dei students learn and communicate, Clare said. But even with the evolution, Mater Dei’s core mission remains the same, Clare said: To form the whole person in mind, body and soul, guiding students to live lives rooted in Mater Dei’s core values of honor, glory and love.
“The world is more interconnected, and the challenges they face are more complex,” Clare said. “As educators, we have evolved as well, continuing to strengthen our curriculum and create learning experiences that prepare our students to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.”
Mater Dei kicked off a year-long celebration of its diamond anniversary in August with a 75th anniversary Mass in the grotto on campus. The service drew more than 1,200 members of the Mater Dei community, including current students, parents, faculty and alumni. Multiple celebratory events have taken place throughout the school year.
ANNIVERSARY GALA
The showcase event is the 75th Anniversary & Ring of Honor Gala on April 25 in the Meruelo Athletic Center. The gala will feature entertainment, fine dining and a special Ring of Honor ceremony to honor individuals whose contributions have shaped the Mater Dei legacy.
An online auction will take place during the week leading up to the gala.
“I love Mater Dei and will never cease working to achieve the mission of leading young women and men to Christ with an intercession of Mary Mater Dei,” said Mater Dei president Michael Brennan, who came to Mater Dei in February 2022 after serving as Servite High School principal for 15 years. “Being the president of Mater Dei High School is a wonderful blessing and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. My daily prayer is that I have the ability to not only lead the school with honor, glory, and love but to live my life with the same virtues.”