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, 72 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. 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 Oratory Museum displays nativity scenes and crèches, created by artists from around the world, and features temporary exhibits of other religious artwork.

The charity is in the process of building a new oratory. It reports the new oratory will be more modern and accessible than the current oratory. The summit will provide a 360 degree view of the city. According to newswire, the development project costs $110 million. The Quebec government provided $30.8 million, Canadian government provided $22 million, and city of Montreal provided $10 million. The rest of the funds are from public, corporate, and religious donations. 

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. The charity has an associated foundation, but Ci did not received the foundation’s financials. Ci used the foundation’s T3010 for reserve fund information only.

L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal received $13.6m in donations in F2021. The charity’s T3010 reports it received $366k in government funding in F2021. Administrative costs are 9% of revenue (excluding investment income), and fundraising costs are 19% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 28%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 72 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

The charity and its foundation have $10.1m in reserve funds excluding interest-bearing debt. Reserve funds can cover 175%, or one year and nine months of the charity's 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 8, 2023 by Liam Chapleau.