American National Catholic Church Gathers in Maryland for 2026 National Convocation
“Pilgrims of Hope, Disciples on a Mission” brings clergy and laity together for worship, spiritual renewal, formation and mission
ADAMSTOWN, Md. — Clergy and members of the American National Catholic Church (ANCC) from across the United States will gather August 13–15 at the Claggett Center in Maryland for the Church’s biennial National Convocation.
Held every two years, the ANCC Convocation brings together the People of God — laity, religious, deacons, priests and episcopal leadership — for several days of prayer, worship, spiritual formation, fellowship and reflection on the Church’s continuing mission.
The theme of the 2026 gathering, “Pilgrims of Hope, Disciples on a Mission,” reflects the ANCC’s conviction that Christian hope is not simply something to be professed, but something to be lived and carried into the world through discipleship and service.
Set in the retreat-like atmosphere of the Claggett Center, the Convocation will include workshops devoted to spirituality and ministry, inspiring Catholic liturgies, opportunities for prayer and reflection, and time for members of ANCC communities from around the country to renew friendships and strengthen the bonds that unite them in ministry.
The gathering also offers a distinctive glimpse into the life of the American National Catholic Church and its place within the broader Independent Sacramental Movement.
The ANCC is an independent Catholic jurisdiction rooted in the ancient Catholic sacramental tradition and apostolic succession while remaining independent of the Roman Catholic Church. It seeks to embody a contemporary expression of Catholicism informed by the renewal of the Second Vatican Council and characterized by sacramental life, responsible ecclesial governance, theological and ministerial formation, and the full participation of the People of God.
Within the extraordinarily diverse Independent Sacramental Movement, the ANCC has sought to demonstrate that independence need not mean isolation and that inclusion need not require abandoning Catholic identity. The Church maintains an episcopal structure, a common ecclesial life, standards for clergy formation and accountability, religious communities and parishes while embracing a radically welcoming pastoral ministry.
Women and men share in ordained ministry, married persons may serve as clergy, and LGBTQ+ persons participate fully in the sacramental and ministerial life of the Church. The ANCC welcomes those who have often found themselves marginalized or excluded from sacramental life while remaining centered upon the Eucharist and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Convocation expresses that identity in a particularly visible way. Rather than being solely a gathering of clergy or Church leadership, it brings clergy and laity together as the People of God to pray, learn, discern and celebrate their common vocation.
At the center of the gathering is the Eucharist — the sacramental expression of the communion the ANCC seeks to embody both within the Church and in the world.
The 2026 theme also points beyond the gathering itself. Participants will return to their parishes and ministries renewed for the work ahead: proclaiming the Gospel, serving those at the margins, building communities of welcome and offering a Catholic spiritual home to people who may have believed there was no longer a place for them within the Catholic tradition.
In gathering as Pilgrims of Hope and Disciples on a Mission, the American National Catholic Church seeks to bear witness to a simple conviction: the Catholic tradition can be faithful to its ancient sacramental roots while remaining open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people today.
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About the American National Catholic Church
The American National Catholic Church (ANCC) is an independent Catholic jurisdiction in the United States offering a contemporary expression of the ancient Catholic faith. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the sacramental tradition of the Church and apostolic succession, the ANCC seeks to provide an inclusive Catholic home in which all people are welcomed into the life of the Church. The ANCC is independent of the Roman Catholic Church.
Media Contact:
American National Catholic Church
Rev. Fr. Geety Reyes, Chancellor
Greyes@anccmail.org
886-814-5456 Ext. 2
WWW.TheANCC.org
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