irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $43KBOARD TRAVEL - PILGRIMAGE TO ROME IN 2020. 24 INDIVIDUALS SERVED AT LOURDES THROUGH THE BOARD PILGRIMAGE.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience®
Virtual guided pilgrimage experience offered to individuals and groups worldwide, led by trained volunteers for over 22 years
Lourdes Water Distribution
Distributes water collected from the spring at the Grotto of Lourdes to individuals seeking spiritual comfort and healing
Prayer Petition Ministry
Collects and delivers prayer petitions from individuals to the Grotto of Lourdes in France
Supportive Care Pilgrimages
Organized pilgrimages to Lourdes, France in April, June, and October for the sick and suffering, including accommodations and spiritual care
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Religious Pilgrimage and Faith-Based Service Support 5 activities
- Delivering prayer petitions to Lourdes GrottoDelivers prayer petitions to the Lourdes Grotto in France free of charge upon request, as part of spiritual support services offered to individuals.
- Organizing pilgrimages to Lourdes, FranceOrganizes annual week-long pilgrimages to Lourdes, France, primarily for pilgrims with disabilities and serious medical conditions, including over 230 guided pilgrimages since inception and a board pilgrimage in 2020 that served 24 individuals. The organization has facilitated travel for over 6,700 pilgrims to Lourdes since its founding.
- Providing financial assistance for pilgrimage participationOffers financial support through the Andrea’s Wish Sponsorship Fund to enable individuals, especially those with financial hardship, to participate in pilgrimage activities to Lourdes.
- Supporting the sick and disabled during pilgrimagesProvides volunteer and medical support for seriously ill and profoundly disabled pilgrims during trips to Lourdes, including developing hundreds of detailed support plans and deploying nursing advance teams; staff serve in roles such as Medical Director and Supportive Care Pilgrimage Nurse.
- Supporting volunteer service opportunitiesProvides volunteer service opportunities for youth and adults, particularly in caring for the sick during pilgrimage activities, and supports consecrated women in serving on pilgrimages or in local parish ministries.
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Regular Religious Worship Services 1 activity
- Hosting spiritual eventsHosts a monthly Family Rosary prayer event to foster community prayer and spiritual engagement.
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Religious Education and Instruction 1 activity
- Offering educational and formation programsProvides educational programs for teachers and students on the spirituality of Lourdes, produces and broadcasts educational film series (e.g., on grief and bereavement), and offers formation opportunities to engage people with the Message of Lourdes across North America.
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Uncategorized 4 activities
- Distributing Lourdes waterDistributes authentic, undiluted Lourdes water from the Lourdes Grotto spring to individuals in the United States upon request, typically two 1-oz. bottles per request with delivery taking 4–6 weeks, reaching tens of thousands of recipients annually.
- Facilitating spiritual community for consecrated womenSupports a community of Consecrated Widows and Consecrated Women through a Rule of Life approved by the local bishop, monthly gatherings for prayer and formation, annual retreats, and opportunities for service.
- Producing and selling faith-based materialsSells books (e.g., “Everyday Miracles of Lourdes”) and Andrea Wish Cards, and offers discounted bulk cases of books to members; all proceeds support the ministry. The organization does not sell religious trinkets, medals, or Lourdes water.
- Providing Virtual Pilgrimage ExperiencesOffers live-guided Virtual Pilgrimage Experiences® to Lourdes, delivered online to schools, parishes, prisons, care homes, and other community settings, especially for individuals unable to travel; includes tactile elements such as grotto rock and Lourdes water to enhance spiritual connection.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.67M
Contributions & grants$793K47%
Program service revenue$855K51%
Investment income$8160%
Other revenue$22K
expenses
Total expenses$1.50M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$350K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.19M
Cash$759K
Investments$0
Liabilities$192K
Net assets$1.00M
Liquid reserves6.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIKA VINCENT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $64K |
board members · 19
- BARRY VAUGHN — PRESIDENT
- BRIAN PATRICK POLK — DIRECTOR
- CHARO ROJAS — DIRECTOR
- DAVID BARTON — DIRECTOR
- DR BELEN TAN — TREASURER
- DR LINDA SATTERLEE — DIRECTOR
- EDWIN ROJAS — DIRECTOR
- JAMES BARTON — DIRECTOR
- JAMES KERNELL — SECRETARY
- KATHY SCHULZ — DIRECTOR
- MAJEL BRADEN — DIRECTOR
- MARLENE WATKINS — FOUNDRESS
- MELINDE NENE — DIRECTOR
- NANCY PEASE — DIRECTOR
- PAMELA BARTON — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT HYDE — SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
- TERESA LEWIS — VICE PRESIDENT
- THERESA STINER — DIRECTOR
- TONJA KERNELL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Andrea’s Wish Partner — Collaborates with Andrea’s Wish to provide financial sponsorship for pilgrims in need.
- Bishop Douglas J. Lucia Government — Approved the Rule of Life for Consecrated Widows and Consecrated Women on February 2, 2023.
- Coalition of Catholic Apostolates Network — Member of the Coalition of Catholic Apostolates, as indicated by the CEMA banner linking to coalitionofapostolates.com.
- Constant Contact Partner — Used for email communication services
- Diocese of Syracuse Government — Catholic Public Association of the Christian Faithful within the Diocese of Syracuse.
- Diocese of Syracuse Government — Host diocese providing ecclesiastical authority and canonical recognition; home to founding bishop and current leadership.
- EWTN Partner — Broadcast partner for the 5-part pandemic series on grief and bereavement.
- EWTN Partner — Hosts Marlene F. Watkins at the EWTN Family Celebration, indicating a collaborative relationship.
- Franciscan University of Steubenville Partner — Collaborates to supervise and coordinate nursing student volunteers on pilgrimage teams.
- Hospitalite Notre Dame de Lourdes Partner — Refers international volunteers to this organization for service at the Lourdes Sanctuary in France.
- Hospitalité Partner — Collaborates with Hospitalité, whose President invited the first volunteer to bring more Americans to serve at Lourdes.
- Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes Network — Formal affiliation through member commitments and shared services such as St. Jean de Baptiste and Piscine Service.
- Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes Partner — Collaborates with Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes to serve pilgrims at the Sanctuaries in Lourdes, France.
- Librairie-Boutique Lourdes Sanctuaire Partner — Partner bookstore for distribution of Everyday Miracles of Lourdes outside the US.
- National Association of Catholic Nurses Partner — Collaborates with Lourdes Volunteers to share the message of Lourdes at an event in Rockville Centre, NY.
- Pam Barton Partner — Board member and virtual-pilgrimage director who leads live-guided sessions.
- Radio Maria Partner — Features Marlene Watkins as a guest on "A Light in the World," indicating media partnership.
- Teresa Lewis Partner — Board vice president who describes the organization’s virtual pilgrimage model.
- WACE AM 730 Partner — Hosts Marlene Watkins on "Cause of Our Joy," indicating media outreach partnership.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Faith-Based Healing Through Divine Conduitmethodology: faith-based_healingBy distributing Lourdes Water and facilitating faith-centered experiences, the organization enables spiritual healing and grace for the sick and suffering, because it believes divine intervention operates through sacramental faith practices.
- Spiritual Accompaniment Modelmethodology: accompagnementBy providing holistic residential care (Accueil) and ongoing community gatherings, the organization supports the physical and spiritual well-being of pilgrims, because sustained relational presence deepens transformative spiritual experiences.
- Virtual Pilgrimage as Spiritual Accessmethodology: virtual_pilgrimage_evangelizationBy replicating the full devotional journey of Lourdes through structured virtual experiences, the organization extends pilgrimage grace to those unable to travel, because digital access preserves spiritual efficacy when physical presence is impossible.