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. The Oratory, completed in 1967, is a site of spiritual and cultural significance in Canada and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004. The basilica holds a relic from Saint Brother André, fragments of his heart, and is dedicated to Saint Joseph, to whom Saint Brother André attributed his healing abilities. 

Masses are celebrated daily in the Oratory’s Crypt Church and in the basilica on Sundays. Services are offered in French, English, and Spanish with some of the French masses also broadcast on television and radio. The Oratory provides other religious programming such as confessions, prayer of the rosary, and guidance, in preparation for marriage.

The outdoor Garden of the Way of the Cross is a 200,000 square foot greenspace that contains the 14 traditional stations to reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as well as a marble reflecting pool and monument depicting the Resurrected Christ. The garden contains 42 characters carved out of limestone, each approximately nine feet tall.

The Oratory works to integrate art and history in its programming. Maîtrise des Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal (Boys’ Choir) participate in Sunday masses and weekly concerts feature the Oratory’s organist with guest performers. The basilica’s bells can be heard ten times each week, played by the Oratory’s Titular Carillonist Andrée-Anne Doane. The Oratory Museum displays nativity scenes, crèches, created by artists from around the world and features temporary exhibits of other religious artwork.

On March 22, 2019, Father Claude Grou was stabbed while celebrating 8:30am mass. The 77-year-old priest is expected to make a full recovery.

The plaintiff of a class action lawsuit, known only as J.J., alleges that he was sexually abused as an alter boy at the Oratory in the 1950s. The alleged perpetrating priest died in the 2000s.

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. The financial analysis completed by Charity Intelligence uses the most recent financial statements available to Ci, through a request to the CRA, at the time of writing this report.

L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal is a large charity with donations of $16.6m in F2017. Administrative costs are 12% of revenues less investment income, and fundraising costs are 8% of donations. For every dollar donated, 79 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. The Oratory has $8.2m in funding reserves which could cover six months of 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 16, 2019 by Madison Kerr.