Ven. Fulton Sheen among many Catholic figures to be featured in National Garden of American Heroes

Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, a beloved Catholic bishop and pioneering media evangelist, is among many prominent Catholics selected to be honored in the National Garden of American Heroes.

The garden was established by an executive order President Donald Trump signed in 2021, with the goal of creating a statuary park dedicated to honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to America’s history and culture. Although the initiative was halted by the Biden Administration, Trump reinstated the project following his reelection.

“We’re going to be honoring our heroes, honoring the greatest people from our country,” Trump said about the project at the 2025 National Prayer Breakfast. “We’re not going to be tearing down, we’re going to be building up.”

The project was launched in response to what the President described as recent efforts to dismantle America’s history and national identity through the destruction of monuments dedicated to figures such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr. 

The National Garden aims to counteract this trend by preserving and celebrating the legacies of individuals who helped shape the nation. The goal is to complete the project by July 4, 2026, in time for the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Ven. Archbishop Sheen, whose influential radio and television programs brought Catholic teachings into American homes during the mid-20th century, is widely recognized for his role in making the Catholic faith accessible to millions. 

The Archbishop is one of several Catholic religious figures set to be featured in the garden, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint and founder of the Catholic school system; St. Junípero Serra, the Spanish missionary who founded California’s missions; St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint; and Ven. Augustus Tolton, the first recognized African American Catholic priest in the United States.

Other figures include St. John Neumann, who expanded Catholic education in America; St. Katharine Drexel, who dedicated her life and fortune to serving marginalized communities; Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States; and Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

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