Mrs. Anne Carroll with Bishop Michael Burbidge after Receiving the Papal Benemerenti Medal
On September 28, 2025 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Seton School Director, Anne Carroll was honored for her work in service to the Catholic Church by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The award, the Benemerenti Medal, was presented to her by Bishop Burbidge.
The awards were the conclusion of the Diocese of Arlington’s 50th Anniversary celebration where His Holiness Pope Leo XIII bestowed papal honors upon fifty (50) members of the Diocese of Arlington. Ten members of the lay faithful were honored with the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (“For the Church and the Pontiff”), and forty (40) parishioners were honored with the Benemerenti Medal (“To one who is well deserving”)
The Benemerenti Medal is a medal awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established by Pope Pius VI (1775-1799) as a award for soldiers in the Papal Army, this medal has been awarded since 1925 as a mark of recognition to persons in service of the Catholic Church, both civil and military, lay and clergy alike.
Here is what the announcement of the award said about our beloved “Chief”:
Anne Carroll is the founder and executive director of Seton School in Manassas, where she has worked and taught for nearly 50 years, influencing generations of students. She has authored two books on church history and a religion textbook. She received the Saint Thomas More Award for Lifetime Service to the Diocese of Arlington and an honorary doctorate from the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College in Front Royal.
I was very fortunate to be in attendance for Vespers and the Award Presentation:
Also, among the recipients was former Seton Swim-Dad and former Catholic Charities CEO, Art Bennett. Art was the Catholic Charities CEO that created the Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic in the old Manassas abortion clinic after it was purchased by the BVM Foundation.
Here’s what the announcement said about Art:
Arthur Bennett worked for 10 years as executive director of diocesan Catholic Charities. He is a licensed marriage and family counselor and therapist who provided expertise to the diocesan tribunal in marriage nullity cases and has worked closely with Catholic Charities Counseling Services. He is a member of the men’s group and an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria. He serves on the Arlington Diocesan Mental Health Committee and has authored several books on the role of personality and temperament from the perspective of Christian anthropology.
Art Bennett (Center) with BVM Foundation Chairman Sean Garvey (left)
Congratulations to “The Chief” and to Art Bennett. It certainly was a proud night for Seton School!
Here is the announcement in the Arlington Catholic Herald highlighting all 50 Award Recipients.
Here is the article in the Arlington Catholic Herald from after the event.