Pius-Matthias dedicating new stadium

DOWNEY – St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy will dedicate its new athletic field and stadium at a ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.

Featuring an all-weather turf football and soccer field and rubberized track, the field is located on the 17-acre campus inside the new stadium, which broke ground in 2017 as part of an $8 million campus master facility plan.

The stadium and field will be blessed by newly ordained Regional Bishop Marc Trudeau of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, San Pedro Pastoral Region.

Named Shea Field at Smet Family Stadium, the complex honors the John H. & Cynthia Lee Smet Foundation, Shea Properties and Shea Family Charities, who provided support and funding for the project.

The facility will be used not only by high school students, but also by local youth and community sports programs, including the Catholic Youth Organization.

The private Downey school was previously home to the co-ed Pius X High School from 1953-95 before becoming the all-girls St. Matthias High School from 1995-2013.

In 2014, the school became co-ed once again and rebranded as St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy.

The school has produced several notable athletes, including former NFL quarterback Darrin Nelson (class of 1977) and Lamont Hollinquest (1988), a linebacker for the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers.

Last year, the school relaunched its football program after a 25-year hiatus. The Warriors will play their first homecoming game at the new Shea Field at Smet Family Stadium on Oct. 5.

The school recently blessed its newly renovated baseball and softball field, which was part of the first phase of projects in the campus master facility plan.

Other projects included enhancements to the landscaping in front of the school, a new LED marquee sign, and renovation of a campus residence, which will be used by Loyola Marymount University.