Our nation’s semiquincentennial is well underway with a variety of special celebrations.  Since one of the important freedoms that make up the foundation of our country is religious freedom, the Catholic Church has gotten involved in a number of significant ways.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on 11 June, the eve of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  This historic event was designed to recognize the Kingship of Christ and promote healing and peace in our nation.

Later this week, from 2 through 5 July, our Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul will host a variety of events in culmination of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.  This pilgrimage is in honor of our nation’s 250th year and carries the theme: One Nation Under God.  It is an invitation to realign our lives, communities and country under the sovereignty of Christ.  It started over the Memorial Day weekend in St. Augustine, FL, near where the first Mass was celebrated, and has continued up the Eastern Seaboard through most of the original 13 colonies.  In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it will conclude in Philadelphia with a variety of events at the Cathedral including:

  • A Young Adult Holy Hour from 7:00 – 8:00pm on 2 July;
  • Continuous adoration from 8:00pm on 2 July until 5:00pm on 4 July; and
  • Concluding Mass at 11:00am on 5 July.

You will find a full schedule of events on the flyers on our church doors, in our parish Flocknote or school FACTS announcements or by going to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage 2026 website.

On 3 July, the eve of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pope Leo XIV will receive the 38th annual Liberty Medal.  He will join in the celebration virtually as he is honored by the National Constitution Center at an award ceremony on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.  The ceremony begins at 11:00am.  Tickets are available on the National Constitution Center website and the ceremony will be live streamed for those unable to attend in person.  In awarding our Holy Father with this prestigious award, the National Constitution Center wrote:  “The award recognizes the Holy Father’s lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world, ideals enshrined by America’s founders in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”  The National Constitution Center went on to write:

Pope Leo XIV has made interfaith and ecumenical dialogue a defining priority of his pontificate, engaging leaders from Jewish, Muslim, Christian and other religious communities to promote mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.  His outreach reflects a broader moral vision that frames religious liberty not as an abstract right, but as a lived expression of human dignity, particularly for marginalized communities, including religious minorities and those affected by conflict.

The National Constitution Center Interim President and CEO, Vince Stango, underlined that “the NCC is honored to award the Liberty Medal to Pope Leo XIV for his career as a consistent advocate for religious liberty, freedom of conscience, and human dignity.”  “In formal Vatican statements and public addresses,” he continued, “His Holiness has affirmed that peace cannot exist without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression, principles that closely align with constitutional protections guaranteed by the First Amendment.”

Yes, we are one nation under God.  As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, let us pray for God’s continued protection and guidance so that we can continue to shine brightly as a country that recognizes our dependence on God and his call to unite all nations under his loving care.