About St. Maria Goretti · Arlington, Texas
St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church is a parish in Arlington, Texas, identified by the parish itself as the "Mother Parish" of Arlington and a member of the Diocese of Fort Worth. Located at 1200 S. Davis Drive in Arlington's 76013 zip code, the parish serves the local community with a full schedule of daily and weekend Masses, perpetual adoration, Saturday confessions, an attached Catholic school, and a robust Social Outreach Ministry. The parish is named for Saint Maria Goretti (1890–1902), the young Italian virgin and martyr, whose prayer is featured on the parish website.
- Patron
- Saint Maria Goretti (Virgin and Martyr, 1890–1902)
- Rector
- Rev. Samuel (Sam) Maul
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. Maria Goretti offers a full liturgical and devotional life — daily 8 AM Mass (live-streamed), four Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, Saturday confessions, and nearly continuous Eucharistic Adoration in the Oratory — supported by a parish school and an extensive Social Outreach Ministry. Families can enroll children in the parish school, form teens through the Wednesday-night Youth Group, grow adults through FORMED.org and Adult Faith Formation, and serve neighbors through the Padre Pio Food Pantry, the St. Vincent de Paul home-visit ministry, and the Lazarus Project. It is also the self-described "Mother Parish" of Arlington, making it a long-standing anchor of Catholic life in the city.
Mass times at St. Maria Goretti
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the Oratory
- Friday: 8:30 AM – Noon in the Church; Noon – 9:00 PM in the Oratory
About the Parish
St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church is located at 1200 S. Davis Drive in Arlington, Texas, and is identified on its own 'About Our Parish' page as the 'Mother Parish' of Arlington. It is a member of the Diocese of Fort Worth. The parish draws its identity from Saint Maria Goretti (1890–1902), the Italian virgin and martyr, whose memorial prayer is published on the parish homepage. The parish serves its community through Mass, confession, adoration, formation, an on-site Catholic school, and a large Social Outreach Ministry.
- Mother Parish of Arlington, Texas
- Member parish of the Diocese of Fort Worth
- Patron: Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr (1890–1902)
- Address: 1200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76013
History
The parish is recognized as the founding Catholic community of Arlington, with its school founded by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur in 1954. Over the decades the parish has added ministries including St. Anthony's Bread Food Pantry (1998) and the Padre Pio House Social Outreach site (2016), and has hosted a Knights of Columbus council that took the name Blessed Michael McGivney Council 14549 in 2023.
- 1954 – Sisters of St. Mary of Namur found St. Maria Goretti Catholic School
- November 1, 1998 – St. Anthony's Bread Food Pantry opens
- July 2016 – Social Outreach Ministry moves into the Padre Pio House, 1301 Paxton Ave.
- December 2025 – Food pantry renamed Padre Pio Food Pantry and Baby's World
- April 18, 2023 – Knights council renamed Blessed Michael McGivney Council 14549
- August 14, 2024 – Arlington Mayor Jim Ross proclaims 'Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School Day'
Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Samuel Maul and Parochial Vicar Fr. Francis Poku, with Deacon Joe Ramos assisting. A full lay staff handles parish administration, faith formation, music and liturgy, the school, communications and physical plant.
- Fr. Samuel Maul – Pastor
- Fr. Francis Poku – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Joe Ramos
- Kathy McCoy – Parish Manager
- Sherry Lewis – Secretary / Receptionist
- Heather Hamilton – Bookkeeper
- Tasha Allen – Safe Environment Coordinator
- Keith Parker, M.T.S. – Director of Adult Faith Formation
- Brenda Hawley – Faith Formation Secretary / Baptism Preparation
- Heather Schmitt – Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Hannah Sumpter – Catechist for Family Ministry
- Helen Engle – Tribunal Advocate
- Freda Breed – Director of Music and Liturgy
- Sylvia Curiel – Liturgy Assistant / Wedding Preparation / Bulletin
- Todd Hughes – Organist
- Phillip Brady – Director of Plant Maintenance (with David Smith, Kevin Hennessy, Matt Bara)
- Amy Utendorf – Principal, St. Maria Goretti School
- Brad Maunders – Director of Communications / Director of Social Ministry
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Faith Formation at St. Maria Goretti covers sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, plus ongoing Adult Faith Formation and the FORMED.org online platform. Confirmation is normally celebrated at age 15 in the Diocese of Fort Worth, with a separate Adult Confirmation class for those 18 and older. A baptismal certificate is required before further sacraments can be conferred.
- Baptism preparation (Brenda Hawley)
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Adult Confirmation class (18+)
- RCIA-style Adult Faith Formation
- Online formation via FORMED.org (Augustine Institute partner)
- Marriage preparation (Sylvia Curiel) and Tribunal Advocate for annulments
Youth Ministry
The SMG Youth Group meets most Wednesday nights during the school year from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, focusing on lifelong discipleship, evangelization, catechesis, and community building. The ministry, led by Heather Schmitt, draws on Pope St. John Paul II's call to young people to let Jesus fulfill their deepest aspirations.
- Wednesday nights 6:00–7:30 PM during the school year
- Evangelization and catechesis
- Retreats and service projects
- Mentorship and prayer support
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical Ministries at St. Maria Goretti involve parishioners in every part of Mass: as Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, ushers, altar servers, choir members, and those who decorate the church or serve at weddings and funerals. Safe Environment (VIRTUS) training is required for all volunteers.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Ushers / greeters
- Altar servers
- Choir and music ministry
- Wedding and funeral servers
- Church environment / decorating teams
Music and Liturgy
Music at St. Maria Goretti is directed by Freda Breed, Director of Music and Liturgy, with Sylvia Curiel assisting as Liturgy Assistant and Wedding Preparation Coordinator, and Todd Hughes serving as organist. The parish offers live-streamed Masses and publishes a broadcast schedule for daily and Sunday liturgies on its YouTube channel.
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Freda Breed
- Liturgy Assistant / Wedding Prep: Sylvia Curiel
- Organist: Todd Hughes
- Live-streamed daily 8 AM and Sunday 9 AM Masses on YouTube
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School
Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School has been on the parish campus since its founding in 1954 by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur. The school describes itself as '70 Years of Excellence' and as the leader in Catholic education in the D/FW area, combining faith, family, and community. The current principal is Amy Utendorf, with Stephanie Malloy as secretary and Judy de la Pena as registrar.
- Founded 1954 by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur
- Located on the parish campus at 1200 S. Davis Drive
- Principal: Amy Utendorf (817-275-5081)
- 70+ years of Catholic education in Arlington
- Students volunteer and fundraise for Mission Arlington, the Arlington Animal Shelter, and other causes
Social Outreach: Padre Pio Food Pantry and Baby's World
The parish food ministry began November 1, 1998 as St. Anthony's Bread Food Pantry and was renamed the Padre Pio Food Pantry and Baby's World in December 2025. It now operates by appointment from the Padre Pio House at 1301 Paxton Avenue, serving clients on Tuesdays and Saturdays from specific Arlington zip codes. The pantry accepts bulk food donations, personal hygiene items, baby supplies, and (with a state repackaging permit) large bags of rice, beans, flour, sugar, and oil.
- Operating since November 1, 1998
- Housed at Padre Pio House, 1301 Paxton Avenue
- Tuesday and Saturday appointments, 8:30 AM–11:50 AM
- Serves zip codes 76006, 76010–76016, 76112
- Phone: 817-274-5407
- Director: Brad Maunders
- Personal hygiene and baby items accepted
- Partial closure in July and around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's
Society of St. Vincent de Paul – SMG Conference
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference sends trained Vincentians in pairs on home visits to neighbors experiencing hardship, offering assistance with food, utilities, and rent. SMG parishioners are exempt from the zip-code service area; all others must reside within zip codes 76010, 76011, 76012, or 76013. The conference meets the first and third Thursday of each month on the parish campus.
- Home-visit ministry for neighbors in need
- Service zip codes: 76010, 76011, 76012, 76013 (parishioners exempt)
- Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursdays
- Help Line: 817-260-0376
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://svdpsmg.org/
Lazarus Project
The Lazarus Project is a family-based service initiative that helps households make love of neighbor and service to the poor a visible part of daily life. Families place an empty basket in their home and fill it with essentials for women residents of the Presbyterian Night Shelter and other local partners.
- Family-centered service to the poor
- Supports the Presbyterian Night Shelter for women
- Works in conjunction with the SMG Social Outreach and SVdP conference
Knights of Columbus – Blessed Michael McGivney Council 14549
The parish Knights of Columbus council, originally named for Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, was renamed Blessed Michael McGivney Council 14549 effective April 18, 2023 by Supreme approval. The council sponsors parish and community events year-round, including a quarterly Council Mass, Parish Breakfast, Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, tamale sales, and assistance to the parish Social Ministry and Salvation Army pickups.
- Council 14549, renamed Blessed Michael McGivney Council on April 18, 2023
- Grand Knight: Lou Vilano
- Deputy Grand Knight: SK Dwaine Sides
- Chancellor: John McAnally III
- Financial Secretary: SK Brad Maunders
- Quarterly Council Mass, Parish Breakfast, Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, Tamale Sales
- Volunteers assist with Social Ministry client days and Salvation Army pickups
Parish Office, Contact, and Communications
The Parish Office is a one-story brick structure south of the church and west of the Memorial Garden on the Davis Drive campus. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–Noon and 1:00–4:30 PM, and Fridays 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. After-hours pastoral emergencies are handled at 972-943-4481. The parish communicates through its website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X/Twitter, and Flocknote.
- Parish Office: 1200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76013
- Phone: 817-274-0643
- After-Hours Emergency: 972-943-4481
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–Noon, 1:00–4:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
- Director of Communications: Brad Maunders
- Channels: website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X/Twitter, Flocknote