L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal is a zero-star charity that is not financially transparent. It has an F results reporting grade, meaning that it provides very little information for donors on its results. For every dollar donated to the charity, 74 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range. Read Ci's report before donating to this charity. 

Founded in 1904, L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal (Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal) is a Catholic basilica and shrine in Montreal, Quebec. Completed in 1967, the Oratory is a site of spiritual and cultural significance and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004. The basilica houses a relic from Saint Brother André, fragments of his heart, and is dedicated to Saint Joseph, whom Saint Brother André credited with his healing abilities.

Daily masses are held in the Crypt Church, with Sunday services in the basilica. Services are offered in French, English, and Spanish, with some French masses broadcasted on TV and radio. The Oratory also offers other religious programs, including confessions, the prayer of the rosary, and marriage preparation guidance.

The outdoor Garden of the Way of the Cross is a 200,000-square-foot greenspace that features the 14 traditional stations for reflecting on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, along with a marble reflecting pool and a monument depicting the Resurrected Christ. The garden includes 42 limestone statues, each about nine feet tall.

The Oratory integrates art and history into its programming. The Maîtrise des Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal (Boys’ Choir) participates in Sunday masses, and weekly concerts feature the Oratory’s organist along with guest performers. The Oratory Museum displays nativity scenes and crèches created by artists from around the world and hosts temporary exhibits of other religious artwork.

The charity is in the process of building a new oratory that will be more modern and accessible. According to newswire, the development project costs $110 million. The Quebec government provided $30.8 million, the Canadian government provided $22 million, and the city of Montreal provided $10 million. The rest of the funds are from public, corporate, and religious donations. In F2024, the charity reports the creation of a grandiose dome and observation tower at the top. The summit will provide a 360-degree view of the city. It also completely redeveloped the Museum to better showcase its collection of nearly 30,000 works.

Charity Intelligence has scored L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal as a zero in financial transparency because the charity failed to provide financial statements when requested. Ci’s financial analysis uses the F2022 financial statements, through a request to the CRA. The charity has an associated foundation, but Ci did not receive the foundation’s financials. Ci used the foundation’s T3010 for reserve fund information only.

L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal received $22.3m in donations in F2022. The charity’s T3010 reports it received $372k in government funding in F2022, which is 2% of revenues. It spent $7.3m on program costs in F2022, which is 30% of total revenues.

Administrative costs are 16% of revenues (less investment income), and fundraising costs are 11% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 26%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 74 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range of 65 to 95 cents.

The charity and its foundation have ($5.1m) in reserve funds, as its $23.0m in interest-bearing debt exceeds its $17.9m in cash and investments. These debts represent bank loans and credit. Excluding debt, the charity’s reserve funds can cover 244% or two years and five months of annual program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 7, 2024 by Alexia Tudose.