Lasallian Heritage Days 2026

Lasallian Heritage Days April 15 – 30, 2026

We are excited to share with you our calendar of events for this year’s Lasallian Heritage Days: “A Mosaic of Our Shared Humanity”

Our Theme | For our theme this year, we took inspiration from the college’s 2025-2026 institutional theme: Respect for All Persons, highlighting one of the Lasallian Core Principles. In thinking about what it looks like to show universal respect here at Saint Mary’s, the imagery that we decided upon for our logo is that of a stained glass mosaic, and the many diverse individual pieces that are brought together to create a whole image. We have beautiful examples of stained glass mosaics in our Chapel, but more importantly, we want to represent that each of us at Saint Mary’s contributes ourselves - our talents, experiences, and identities - to make the mosaic that is the SMC community.

Inside that mosaic is a star, representing the “Signum Fidei” - the “sign of faith” that is the motto of the De La Salle Christian Brothers here and around the world. The star is also the image shown to represent five Lasallian Core Principles. In addition to Respect for All Persons, they are Quality Education, Inclusive Community, Concern for the Poor and Social Justice, and Faith in the Presence of God.

In coming up with the wording of our theme, we were also inspired by a quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in which he stated, “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." We recognized in this quote the deeply important idea of our shared humanity, and in that the importance of caring for one another. In the Lasallian take on what it means to show respect for all persons, it is much more than simply a tolerance of others; it is instead a deep care and concern for each other.

It is with all of these pieces put together - and with gratitude to Adira Weixlmann in Marcom for her logo design - that we bring you this year’s Lasallian Heritage Days theme: “A Mosaic of our Shared Humanity.”

Generally each year we offer a suggested reading that fits with the Lasallian Heritage Days theme. This year, we are assembling a resource which highlights the Respect for All Persons institutional theme, and will include quotes from St. John Baptist de La Salle himself, as well as more contemporary writings about what seeing each person’s inherent dignity can look like in practice - here at Saint Mary’s and in today’s world. The resource will be an expansion of what has been read and discussed during Soup and Substance gatherings, and will be available for anyone who wishes to use it. Stay tuned!

About Lasallian Heritage Days | Lasallian Heritage Days honors Saint John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (often called “De La Salle Christian Brothers”) and celebrates the work of the many Christian Brothers and Partners who respond to signs of the times to meet educational needs in 80 countries around the world. We are all part of this 300+ year mission. More information on the De La Salle Christian Brothers and other Lasallian universities worldwide can be found on these sites:

Brothers of the Christian Schools - lasalle.org

International Association of Lasallian Universities (IALU) - ialu.org

Calendar of Events | There are many special events taking place between April 15-30. We are grateful for the many students, faculty, and staff who are hosting and collaborating on events this year.

We will be updating this page with event details, so watch for email announcements and check back as we approach April 15. If you are hosting an event you think would fit well with our theme specifically, or our Lasallian heritage generally, please reach out to Carrie Davis (cak6), Mission & Ministry Director. We hope this year’s Lasallian Heritage Days are a reminder of what each of us brings individually - acknowledging our shared humanity - to the Lasallian educational mission here at Saint Mary’s College.


April 15
Kick-off Community BBQ	11:00am – 2:00pm SMC Chapel Lawn Free to all	Join the campus community to share a meal hosted by Gael Dining as we kick off the 21st year of Lasallian Heritage Days. Enjoy lunch, listen to music, visit department and club-sponsored tables, win swag, play games, and spend the afternoon outside together on the Chapel lawn. All are welcome and we look forward to celebrating with you!	Image
Green Dot Bystander Intervention and Gael Safe App Overview	1:00pm - 2:00pm CARE/CWGE, Augustine Hall, Ground Floor	One of Saint Mary’s five core principles is “Respect for All Persons”. Ours is a community where violence is not tolerated and the expectation is that everyone does their part to promote a community of care and concern. At Saint Mary's College, we are choosing to help prevent violence from occurring by creating an environment of awareness and partnership where we all look out for one another. With collective change and determination, we can shift our culture towards one of alliance and advocacy with active bystander intervention.	Image
April 16
Lunch with a Faith Leader: Imam Imad Abboushi	12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Mission and Ministry Center Lounge	Hosted by the Mission and Ministry Center Join us for lunch and discussion grounded in your faith/spirituality/worldview. We will be joined by different faith leaders who will lead conversations grounded in how they show up in the world with their worldview.	Image
April 17
Campus Conversation: Title IX & Beyond	1:30pm - 2:30pm Dante 204	Hosted by CARE	Image
Forest Bathing	12pm - 3pm Redwood Grove Open to all	Hosted by the Mission and Ministry Center The Japanese practice 森林浴 (Shinrin Yoku), known in the west as Forest Bathing, invites us to immerse ourselves in the restorative power of nature and celebrate our perfect imperfection. Spend time in the Redwood Grove to recover from a week of work and study, and discover calm, stillness, and the healing power of nature.	Image
April 18
Gael Day of Service	All Day On and Off Campus Opportunities	Hosted by Alumni and EL On this day, members of the Saint Mary’s community will come together to serve our neighbors through organized community service projects, making a meaningful impact beyond campus.	Image
Initiation Saturday	5:00pm SMC Chapel	Hosted by the Mission & Ministry Center, all are welcome and invited to witness and take part in the Celebration of the Sacraments for 25 members of our campus community, and stay for a reception following the liturgy.	Image
April 20
Soup and Substance	12:00pm - 1:00pm Alemany Community	Hosted by Office of Mission and the De La Salle Christian Brothers Soup and Substance, hosted by the Office of Mission and the De La Salle Christian Brothers, is an opportunity to discuss Lasallian tradition with faculty, students and staff and a Christian Brother "host" while sharing soup in the Brother's Community.	Image
Gaels Off-Campus: Local and Global Experiences	1:30pm - 3:00pm Hagerty Lounge	Hosted by Engaged Learning, January Term, and Study Abroad	Image
Denim Day	10:00am - 2:00pm Dante Quad	Hosted by CARE and SCAAR	Image
April 22
Academic Convocation	1:30pm – 2:30pm SMC Chapel	Honoring our special guest Br. George Van Grieken, '75, MA '79, FSC, PhD, with special reception to follow at the Soda Center	Image
Senior Reflection Night & Bubbly with the Brothers	4:45pm - 8:30pm Claeys Lounge / Fenlon Hall	Graduating students are invited to this 4th annual event combining a Senior Reflection Night and a champagne reception with the Brothers Communities. Hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Mission & Ministry Center RSVP HERE	Image
Frankenstein Screening and Discussion	5:00pm - 8:00pm Hagerty Lounge	Hosted by Seminar, the Film Club, and Media Production This event considers Guillermo Del Toro's 2025 cinematic retelling of Frankenstein alongside its many predecessors, and asks how it—and previous filmic portrayals—uses Shelley's universal metaphors about creation and responsibility to interrogate the idea of monstrosity. Join us for a brief lecture, followed by a screening of Frankenstein (2025), then dive into an open discussion of the film and its source material.	Image
April 23
One Day One SMC	12:00am - 11:59pm / 11:00am - 2:00pm Online/Dante Quad	Every gift, no matter the amount, sparks lasting change. Ready to make your impact?	Image
April 24
Cultural Night Showcase	4:00pm - 6:00pm / 6:00pm - 8:30pm Soda Center	Hosted by the Intercultural Center, this captivating evening of music, food, pre-show entertainment, and performances is dedicated to welcoming folks of all backgrounds to share their different forms of artistic expression with the Saint Mary’s community. Festivities: 4:00pm-6:00pm, SODA Center Patio (food trucks, DJ, photo booth and vendors) Showtime: 6:00pm-8:30pm	Image
April 25
Faces of God Retreat	8:45am – 10:00pm Off Campus at San Damiano in Danville	Hosted by the Mission and Ministry Center, this Catholic Retreat allows a chance to step back, quiet your mind, and explore your faith on a deeper level. Activities for prayer, reflection, & sharing within a supportive community of fellow students aim at exploring and strengthening your connection with God and others. Discover new insights on your spiritual journey & provides a sense of renewal and grounding.	Image
April 26
Mass and De La Salle Christian Brothers Vow Renewal	8:00pm during Student Community Liturgy SMC Chapel	Come for our 8pm Student-led liturgy, and stay for the special reception to follow	Image
April 27
Living a Life of Purpose	7pm Mission & Ministry Center Lounge	Join us for a conversation with Br. David Caretti, FSC (De La Salle Christian Brother), and Sr. Lisa Laguna, DC (Daughter of Charity), who will share about their call to religious life. Students will be invited to explore how they can each follow their own path toward living a life of purpose. Snacks will be provided.	Image
April 29
Solidarity Supper Movie Night	5:00pm – 7:00pm Chapel Courtyard	Hosted by the Mission & Ministry Center Come enjoy a free home-cooked meal prepared by our Gael Pantry team and Engaged Learning students, and stay for a new documentary film about St. John Baptist de La Salle!	Image
April 30
Staff Recognition Event	3:00pm - 4:30pm Soda Center	Hosted by Staff Council and Office of Mission.	Image
Professor of the Year Reception	4:30pm - 6:30pm Claeys Lounge	Hosted by Academic Affairs, this event will recognize Professor Barbara McGraw on the occasion of her Professor of the Year award. She will deliver remarks, with light refreshments available after the program. RSVP for the reception via the MySMC calendar event here	Image
Take Back The Night	6:30pm - 8:00pm Chapel Lawn	Join CARE (Campus Assault Response and Education) and SCAAR (Student Coalition Against Abuse and Rape) for this annual evening event to support survivors of sexual violence. All interested can come to Chapel Lawn for a light dinner followed by an open mic opportunity and a candle-lit walk in support of survivors	Image