Catholics Are At The Forefront of Celebrating America's 250th Birthday

With so much in the news, America's founding and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence are getting less attention than it deserves. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church is at the forefront of the celebration.

Catholic organizations, diocese, shrines, and parishes are planning a wide range of events, prayer initiatives, and novenas, some already underway.

The United States Catholic Conference is highlighting the anniversary with, We Hold These Truths, Celebrating Catholic Contributions to the United States of America on the Semiquincentennial Anniversary.   Many important, courageous and holy Catholics have played significant roles in American history and it’s fascinating and inspiring to learn about them. Emphasizing prayer, the USCCB will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, in June 2026.What does this mean? Why consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart?” writes Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, chairman of the committee for religious liberty. 

“Devotion to the Sacred Heart has developed over the centuries following the experiences of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the apparitions she witnessed in the 17th century. Popes have lauded the practice of consecration of the self, home, and even whole nations to the Sacred Heart.”

Noting several encyclicals that emphasize devotion to the Sacred Heart, including Haurietis Aquas by Pope Pius XII and Dilexit nos by Pope Francis as well as the apostolic exhortation Dilexi te by Pope Leo XIV, he continued:

“As we reflect with gratitude on the blessings God has bestowed on our country, our devotion to the Sacred Heart demands that we consider how we might foster truth, justice, and charity in American life. We are called to bring our faith into the actions we take and the lives we lead in our communities. We celebrate the ways the Church has contributed to a more just world, and we invite all in our society to see the face of Christ reflected in each sister and brother,” the archbishop concluded.

“This anniversary and consecration will be a great opportunity to promote the beautiful devotion to the Sacred Heart and to encourage the laity to offer their lives in service to God and their country.”

Leading up to the Consecration will be a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus from June 3-11.

The USCCB also encourages individuals and parishes to participate in the America 250 commemoration by contributing to 250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy. Suggestions and guidance for Hours of Adoration and Works of Mercy can be found here.

CatholicsforCatholics (CforC) has joined with the White House’s “America Prays” initiative, encouraging Americans to pray a patriotic rosary or novena for America or participate in a prayer rally.  The organization has been producing, “Patriotic Minutes,” short podcasts highlighting the inspiring lives of Catholics in American history, such as “Servant of God Vincent Capodonno: A Life of A Service and Sacrifice,” and “The Four Chaplains: Heroes at the Sinking of the U.S.A.T Dorchester.”  Some are familiar names, but others I’d never heard of before, such as America's first Cardinal, John McCloskey, and John Longstreet, convert from Episcopalianism and the Confederacy.

The CforC is holding a live Patriotic Rosary every Sunday at 7pm all year.

CatholicVote is celebrating Catholics achievements and praying for spiritual renewal through an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on America. An eight-part video series details the virtue and responsibility of patriotism. The organization invites Catholics to enthrone their home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus during this anniversary year. 

Catholics are invited to gather in La Crosse, WI on June 13 for a Zeale for America 250 Patriotic Rally.  The prayer rally will be hosted by CatholicVote’s CEO Kelsey Reinhart and led by Cardinal Burke. Nationally known Catholics such as Michael Knowles will speak at the patriotic rally which will include Eucharistic adoration, confession, and prayer for the renewal of our nation. 

Another prayer effort is the RosaryCoasttoCoast, scheduled for October 4, 2026.  Sponsored by US Grace Force, local organizations, parishes, and shrines are planning prayer for our nation, with locations registered on the website.  You can join in the simultaneous Rosary across the US at 4 pm Eastern, 3 pm Central, 2 pm Mountain, 1 pm Pacific, noon Alaska, 10am Hawaii.   A Patriotic Rosary Walk at the Rosa Mystica Shrine in Edmonton, NY, is one participating site, joining with the Knights of Columbus to pray for healing for our nation. 

In honor of America’s 250th year, the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will carry the theme One Nation Under God.  Pilgrims will carry the Blessed Sacrament through 18 diocese, in an, “invitation to realign our lives, communities, and country under the sovereignty of Christ. It’s a call to build unity through prayer, and to let Jesus, present in the Eucharist, renew and heal the heart of our country, one soul at a time. As pilgrims on this route, we walk with Christ so that His love might draw our nation back to Him. You’re invited to join us, in person or in spirit, and offer prayers and sacrifices for the renewal of America.”

The pilgrimage began Memorial Day weekend in St. Augustine, Florida, where the first Mass in America was celebrated at the Our Lady of La Leche Shrine at Mission de Nombres. Stops will be made in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, our country’s very first Catholic diocese, as well as the Archdiocese of Boston to visit significant national historical sites. The pilgrimage concludes over the 4th of July weekend in Philadelphia.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion is also celebrating America's 250th with a special event this summer honoring America's Catholic saints or those on the path to sainthood with a novena and exhibit. The relics or remains of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Blessed Solanas Casey, and Blessed Stanley Rother will be among those on display.

"There are fewer than 15 American saints, and only a little more than 70 people whose causes (for sainthood) have been opened" in the U.S., Father Stephens said. "Each of these holy men and women has a beautiful story and powerful example, yet so few people know about them."

"We do not have saints from 2,000 years ago; we have saints of today," he added. "This shows that God is still at work, calling people to Himself."