Raise a flag for Catholic education

Father Samuel Maul, Breda Shelton, and Principal Amy Utendorf speak to students in the gymnasium of St. Maria Goretti Catholic School. (courtesy photo/John Shelton)

ARLINGTON — Deep family connections to both St. Maria Goretti School and Catholic University of America converged on August 29, when Breda Shelton and her son John were present to witness a Catholic University of America flag installed in the gym of the Arlington school.

Devoted to Catholic education at every level, Breda Shelton made the winning bid of $1,700 at the school’s spring fundraising auction, which gave her the privilege to raise the university flag of her choice in the gym. A second individual matched the bid and selected an Ohio State University flag to hang on the wall.

Both SMG and CUA play significant roles in the lives of Shelton and her children. She taught fifth grade for 12 years at St. Maria Goretti, and her son and daughter attended the Arlington school. She earned her degree from Catholic University of America and raised two alumni: her son for his undergraduate degree and her daughter for law.

(Her late husband, George Shelton, graduated from the University of Notre Dame, but they married on the CUA campus.)

Raising the auction paddle to secure the privilege of raising the flag was an easy choice for Shelton, a parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Arlington. She said, “We’re honoring not only St. Maria Goretti, but we’re also honoring Catholic University of America. That’s a wonderful partnership.”

You’ll hear no argument from the pastor of St. Maria Goretti Church and School, Father Samuel Maul, a Catholic University of America alumnus himself.

In fact, Bishop Michael Olson studied philosophy at Catholic University of America. Last October, he received the Catholic University of America Theological College 2023 Alumnus Lifetime Service Award.

The relationship between the Washington, D.C., university and the Diocese of Fort Worth continues. Currently 11 seminarians for the Diocese of Fort Worth are enrolled in graduate theological studies at Catholic University of America.

Seeing the flag being hung was a wonderful moment for Shelton, who credits Catholic education as passing on the enduring truths of the faith from one generation to the next. She explained her donation, saying, “We make those contributions from a place of love, because we want it to go on.”

Seeing the CUA flag in their gym might plant seeds for current St. Maria Goretti students to attend the university, Shelton mused.