ROCKFORD—This year, 2026, is a big year for the United States of America, marking the 250th anniversary of its independence. And all people are invited to share in the celebration. Since there were many historical events that led to and followed our Declaration of Independence, not all celebrations will happen on July 4, and Sharing the Spirit of America is one of those events.
Sharing the Spirit of America is a program that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and the first public reading of it done on July 8, 1776. The keystone of the event is that the reading of the Declaration of Independence will be simultaneous; each location, nationally and internationally, will read at their own local time, wherever they are, that correlates with 6 p.m. (EDT), July 8, 2026.
One of those readings will take place online and will be uniquely in silence, since the focused audience will be the Deaf community.
Msgr. Glenn Nelson, moderator of the Curia and director of the Diocesan Deaf Apostolate, will join the celebration by livestreaming his American Sign Language recitation of the Declaration of Independence.
Not only will he read the historic document in ASL, he will be dressed not as a priest but in colonial garb, with the permission of Bishop David Malloy, to appeal to all Deaf persons, not just Catholics.
Msgr. Nelson told The Observer that it is only fitting that Catholics take part in this special event because it is a way to both highlight and celebrate the fact that there was one Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence: Charles Carroll of Carrolltown, Maryland. Coincidentally, Charles was the cousin of John Carroll, the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the first diocese created in America.
Msgr. Nelson also has other ties to the special event in that he is the Chaplain for the Kishwaukee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is also a full member of the SAR with a few branches of patriots making up his family tree.
“My 11th great-grandfather was an inn keeper and the sheriff of St. Mary’s City, the fourth oldest permanent English settlement in the United States which served as Maryland’s first capital before its move to Annapolis in 1694,” Msgr. Nelson said.
Historically, Colonial St. Mary’s City was founded in March 1634 by the Calvert family who were Catholics living in England during a time of religious persecution. Colonial St Mary’s City was envisioned as a colony of religious tolerance by George Calvert, the 1st Baron Baltimore, and was eventually settled by his younger son, Leonard Calvert, who brought with him Jesuit missionaries to minister to the settlers of this particularly Catholic colony.
“My 11th great grandfather was buried there in 1698 according to the Catholic rites of the Church, which was specifically spelled out in his Last Will and Testament,” Msgr. Nelson said.
There are several locations in the Diocese of Rockford to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud, and they will join thousands of Americans on all seven continents, from Europe and Africa, across North and South America, across the Pacific (including Australia), to Asia, and to Antarctica. Americans in all 50 States, each of the five Territories, D.C., as well as Midway, Wake, and Palmyra (the only U.S. Minor Outlying Islands with staffing that day) will be participating. There are also some locations that will be streaming the reading like the Deaf Apostolate.
To view Msgr. Nelson’s recitation visit the Catholic Deaf Apostolate Facebook page..
SIDE BAR
Declaration Of Independence Reading Locations
Deaf Apostolate—Online at https://www.facebook.com/RockfordDeafApostolate/
DEKALB—DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn. Event and activities begin at 3 p.m. with reading at 6 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/DeKalbCountyIL/posts/join-us-as-dekalb-county-celebrates-americas-250th-birthdaymark-your-calendars-f/1310941404547236/
ELGIN—Elgin History Museum, 360 Park Street, 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. https://www.elginil250.com/events/declaration-of-independence-reading
ROCKFORD—Tinker Swiss Cottage, 411 Kent St., 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs, blankets for the lawn. Refreshments will be served. Copies of the Declaration will be given to the first 50 attendees. https://www.gorockford.com/event/reading-of-the-declaration-of-independence/31116/
Another way to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary is to visit the Flag Day Monument in Batavia. For more, visit https://www.flagdaymonument.com/about
