New gala to honor Charles Carroll and raise funds July 28, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, Local News, News It was during a casual conversation at a national prayer breakfast in Washington D.C. that the idea of a gala celebrating Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, started to take shape. Jennifer Daniels, president of Faithful Citizenship Institute, a nonprofit based in Annapolis, saw America’s 250th birthday as a fitting moment to celebrate Carroll, too – while also supporting the nonprofit whose website says it strives to inspire Catholic policy makers to prioritize their faith over politics. “Sitting around talking, a lot of people did not know about him or that his home is at my church and that he helped start it,” Daniels said, of her parish, St. Mary in Annapolis. “When we found out the day he actually signed the Declaration, Aug. 2, was a Sunday (this year), I thought ‘What a great day for a party.’” The Charles Carroll Legacy Gala is scheduled for Aug. 2, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Charles Carroll House, 107 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis. Guests are invited to attend Mass at St. Mary before enjoying a wine-and-cheese reception on the grounds of Spa Creek. Tours of the mansion will be offered, Daniels said, and various speakers are scheduled to present, too, including Bradley Birzer, from Hillsdale College in Michigan, who will speak on the historical significance of Charles Carroll. “I am hoping to have some Catholic elected officials talk about how their faith inspires their civil life and commitments,” Daniels said. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the nonprofit’s Catholic Social Teaching (CST) course which offers participants three college credits for the first time this year upon course completion. The course, now in its second year, meets twice a month for six months and there are two retreats planned, too, Daniels said. Topics covered include history and canon of CST, human dignity and the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity, themes of CST, family and culture, and Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. “We had 15 participants last year – a very diverse group with a wide range of ages,” said Daniels, who is currently in the process of interviewing participants for this year’s class which starts Sept. 14. The nonprofit recently celebrated its second anniversary in February. It was founded by Daniels as a way to equip policy leaders with the resources and knowledge to make informed decisions. Its goals, according to its website, are to educate, convene and engage policymakers. While the class is its main program right now, an online platform, where people from all over can meet and share their ideas, concerns and stories is also in the works, Daniels said. She hopes to have that launched by the end of summer. It will be a policy-focused group with discussions on topics such as immigration and health,” Daniels said. “There will be fact sheets bishops put out,” she said. “You will get the best of the best from all the Catholic leaders and get it in one place. It is a big dream, a big vision.” The number one goal of the gala, however, is to raise money for the CST class so scholarships can be offered, Daniels said. She is hoping to make the event an annual one to draw attention to Charles Carroll and the nonprofit. “It is something a lot of people are not familiar with,” Daniels said. “We’ve got a lot of …experts on Charles Carroll to keep it going to honor his legacy. It aligns with our mission and is a great opportunity to bring in funding for the next year.” The Charles Carroll Legacy Gala is scheduled for Aug. 2, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Charles Carroll House, 107 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis. Tickets are $100. Go to https://app.glueup.com/event/183194/register to register. read more america 250 America at 250: We must remember we are still a nation of immigrants 1776-era vespers in Philadelphia transport Catholics to connect faith with American Revolution Radio Interview: Archbishop Lori and Cardinal Dolan discuss Catholics in civic life Howard County parish explores patriotism’s Catholic roots for America’s 250th When the American pope comes for July 4 dinner, here’s what happens Radio Interview: Catholicism, religious freedom and the early United States Copyright © 2026 Catholic Review Media Print
