The Trojan Times
August 30, 2026
Mission Statement
St. Maria Goretti is a living testament to our Lord's work in His youngest disciples, exemplified by academic excellence, spiritual formation, and compassionate service to others.
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School aims to form what is True, Good, and Beautiful in the souls of our young disciples of Christ.
Saint Gertrude was a very talented student. She gave her life to God as a nun, and wore the black habit of Saint Benedict. When she was 25 years old, Jesus appeared to her and taught her about His Sacred Heart. She had many talks with Jesus about how to love Him and her neighbor.
As a boy, Saint Vincent was a simple shepherd in a poor family. His father sent him to school to study for the priesthood, and about five years after he became a priest, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave in North Africa!
Years later he escaped to Rome, where he became a tutor to rich noble families. After some time, he realized that he had become proud and superficial. He gave up his position, and began to serve the poor, giving special attention to the poor rowers in the galleys of wealthy ships. With the help of Saint Louise de Marillac, he found the Ladies of Charity, groups of women who took care of the sick and poor in parishes. Later, the Ladies of Charity developed into a religious order named the Daughters of Charity.
When Blessed Laura Vicuna was only three years old, her father died. His parents were nobility, but had rejected him when he married a peasant. After that, he worked as a soldier, so his death left his wife and two daughters terribly poor. A wealthy ranch owner, Manuel, offered to support Laura’s mother and pay for her two daughters to attend a boarding school if she would agree to live with him. He did not ask her to marry him, but expected her to act like his wife. Desperate for money to support the girls, she agreed.
Laura loved the Salesian Sisters who ran her school and took to heart all that she learned. On the day of her First Communion, she noticed that her mother did not receive Communion, and did not seem truly happy. She began to pray often to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, asking for her mother to grow closer to God and to be happy. That year, she enrolled in the Sodality of the Children of Mary, and always wore a medal of Our Lady on a wide ribbon, thinking of it as a sort of protective shield.
When Laura was 11, the bishop visited her school and she asked him if she could become a Sister. He knew that Laura was popular, a great athlete, and very holy and mature for her age, but he told her to wait until she was older. Yet Laura wouldn’t give up the idea. She begged her confessor to ask God if she was called to take vows. The priest agreed that she did have a vocation, but they kept it a secret between them. That Easter, after her confirmation, Laura asked her confessor for permission to offer her life to God for her mother’s conversion, and he gave it.
When Laura was 13 she fell very ill and was sent home to recover, but her health only grew worse. Manuel even physically abused her. Laura died within a short period from a combination of illness and injury. On her death bed she told her mother her sere, “Mama, I’m dying, but I’m happy to offer my life for you. I asked Our Lord for this.” She also said that she forgave Manuel. Inspired by the sacrifice of her daughter, her mother left Manuel and was reconciled to God and His Church.
Your 3rd-8th grade student is invited to audition for our GorettiFest Talent Show as part of our fall festival fundraiser the weekend of October 3-4, 2026. Currently the Talent Show is planned for Sunday, October 4th. However, the GorettiFest team will give us an exact day and time closer to the event. All auditions will be scheduled during class with Mrs. Richards. Students who wish to audition must meet the following requirements:
- Performers must complete this form on or before August 31, 2026.
- Performers must be in the 3rd-8th Grade or be employed at SMG.
- Performers must have everything they need for their performance.
- Performers must have their own downloaded copy of any accompaniment tracks.
- Singers with accompaniment tracks need to provide a Karaoke or instrumental version of their song. (Dancers may dance to a song with the original artist, but singers cannot sing "over" an original artist.)
- All students must turn in their own completed form.
- Lyrics for any songs used must be returned with this form.
- All acts should be less than 4 minutes long, unless special permission is granted.
- Acts do not have to be limited to music. There are many talents we can showcase!
- Band students are invited to complete their form and schedule an audition time with Mrs. Richards.
- Performers must have one parent or guardian join the BAND communication group linked below.
Please do not submit incomplete forms. You need to provide all music files, lyrics, co-performer names, etc. when you submit this form in order for your student to have an audition time scheduled.
Forms due 8/31
Together, we donated 215 food items during the month of August. Thank you for your generosity and support!
Our goal for September is simple: one canned good from every student and staff member at each Mass. If we meet that goal, we have the opportunity to donate more than 1,000 items to help those in need.
Are you up for the challenge? Let's work together to make September our biggest month yet and show the power of the SMG community!
Beginning this year, on the first Friday of each month, students in grades 4 through 8 will dress in Mass attire and attend First Friday Mass, followed by Eucharistic Adoration. We hope this new tradition will instill a deeper love for the Eucharist, strengthen our students' relationship with Christ, and foster a lifelong commitment to prayer and worship. Through these special opportunities for reverence and reflection, we pray that our students will continue to grow in faith and discipleship.
SMG students proudly earn a “Terrific Trojan” sticker when they’re spotted living out our core values of being safe, responsible, and respectful. We’re proud of their efforts and look forward to an exciting year filled with outstanding achievements.
The Ministries Fair was a great success, with an outstanding turnout from our school community. SMG students, Boy Scouts, Heritage Girls, and numerous other groups proudly staffed booths and shared information about the many ways to get involved. We extend our sincere thanks to all who represented Saint Maria Goretti and helped make the event so welcoming and informative.
Jr. High Science students enjoyed having "Maria Sibylla Merian" come and give a presentation. She wore a period dress of the late 1600's- early 1700's and was covered with butterflies.
Maria Sibylla Merian discovered the precise biological stages of insect metamorphosis, proving that caterpillars transform into butterflies and moths rather than spontaneously generating from mud.
Our before and after school care program, SMEED (Saint Maria Extended Educational Day), is off to a wonderful start! In the mornings, students enjoy creative play and engaging activities that help them begin their day with energy and enthusiasm. In the afternoons, students have dedicated time to complete their homework before participating in a variety of scheduled enrichment activities that promote learning, creativity, and fun. We are excited to provide a safe, supportive environment where students can learn, grow, and build friendships beyond the school day.
Sept. 5
Sept. 18
Sept. 29
Sept. 19, Sept. 26, Oct. 3
Father Samuel Maul
SMG
Father Emmanuel Malley
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School
Email: development@smgschool.org
Website: https://smgschool.org
Location: 1200 South Davis Drive, Arlington, TX, USA
Phone: (817)275-5081
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smgcatholicschool/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMariaGorettiArlington/
