STEWARDSHIP FACTS

“The promotion of the practice of stewardship is important for the mission of the Church and for the spiritual well-being of each individual Christian. Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes of his time, talent and treasure…”

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

TAX EXEMPT INFORMATION

The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Inc. is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a registered 501 (c) (3) organization under the group ruling of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ID # 53-0196617, group exemption # 0928.

We are listed in the Official Catholic Directory as the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Inc., St. Paul’s Friary, Graymoor, Garrison, NY 10524. For U.S. donors our Federal EIN # is 14-1344809. Our New York State Sales Tax Exemption # is EX 110447.

For Canadian donors, we are The Friars of the Atonement (Canada) Inc. and our registration # is 0798454-46.

EXEMPT FROM FILING IRS TAX FORM 990

Under the provision of 26 U.S.C. Section 6033, organizations exempt under 501(a) are required to file tax form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service. However, subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) of 26 U.S.C. Section 6033 specifically exempts “…churches, their integrated auxiliaries and conventions or associations or associations of churches” from the filing requirement. As a religious community within the Catholic Church, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Inc. qualifies as an “association of the church” and is exempt from filing 990 tax forms.

MEETING STANDARDS OF TRANSPARENCY & ETHICAL STEWARDSHIP

Since the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are not required to file 990 tax forms, independent organizations such as GuideStar, Charity Navigator, or the Better Business Bureau cannot review the Friars of the Atonement and provide benefactors and potential benefactors with an independent assessment of our ethical stewardship of charitable gifts, appropriate administrative costs as related to programmatic costs, or provide a “rating” which they often can for other organizations.

However, the Friars voluntarily adhere to all guidelines put forth by these organizations and strive to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi as mendicants who use the gifts of others to care for those in need.

If you have specific questions, or concerns, please feel free to call the Executive Director of the Office of Mission Support at 845-424-2123.

STEWARDSHIP AS A LIFESTYLE

Since the earliest days of the founding of the Friars of the Atonement, the tenets of the gospel values of “minimal for self, maximum for God” having led the fraternity to use their resources to caring for others as Christ asked us to do.

Stewardship is a lifestyle, acknowledging a life of accountability, and responsibility that recognizes God as Creator and Owner of all. Stewardship is the responsible management of our God-given resources of time, talent, and treasure. It enhances our relationships with God and one another. Stewardship is living out a commitment to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered and involves a conversion of the heart. Stewardship is a lifelong journey.

Profound gratitude, justice and love become the fundamental motives for giving back to God. Everything that God has given to us is intended to serve the divine plan. Therefore, our life is to be lived in gratitude toward God. In a variety of ways, we as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, share our time, talent and treasure to build up the Church and make our world a better place.

UNION THAT NOTHING BE LOST

“Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost.” John 6:12

Servant of God, Fr. Paul Wattson, SA believed that it was God who inspired him to found the Society of the Atonement of men (Friars of the Atonement) and women (Sisters of the Atonement) with Mother Lurana White, SA.

From that Society emerged a variety of good works and ministries. Through one particular ministry, the “Union that Nothing be Lost”, which was established to provide for those in need, the Friars’ committed to following Christ’s standard that the maximum of all charitable gifts be used to care for others.

The Union that Nothing be Lost Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded your Apostles to gather up the fragments that nothing be lost, give us grace to waste nothing, but to use all our time, talent, substance and opportunity to the greater glory of God, the good of our neighbor, and the salvation of souls; and all for the love of You, O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns world without end. Amen

WHY GIVE?

The generosity of many of our friends is central to the future of the Friar’s special mission of hope, healing, and reconciliation. Among the missions and organizations that your donation will directly impact include:

Pastoral Outreach

As parish priests, missionaries, hospital and hospice chaplains, and in other pastoral roles, the Friars annually serve more than 35,000 people from every ethnic and economic class— with special emphasis on the addicted, those in recovery, the homeless, frail and elderly and others in need.

The Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

Garrison, NY

The Graymoor Spiritual Life Center offers a year-round schedule of spiritual retreats and education programs that foster healing and reconciliation. Retreats are available for groups and individuals, including married couples, seniors, young adults, clergy, and men and women in recovery.

Discernment Ministry with our Youth and Evangelization

Young men and women need a place to listen to how God is acting in their lives.  Through a series of retreats, immersion experiences, and internships of three months to a year, young people can experience service of God’s people while living with us in Religious Life today. The program invites youth to experience the love of God all over the world in our different ministries.

The Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute

Garrison, NY

The GEII is an information and service center dedicated to Christian Unity and Interreligious dialogue. Among other outreach, GEII provides the materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the United States each year, in both English & Spanish.

The Centro Pro Unione

Rome, Italy

The Center is an ecumenical teaching, research, and documentation center serving thousands each year with a broad array of programs and services. In 1968, the Society of the Atonement founded Centro Pro Unione to give space for dialogue, to be a place for study, research and formation in ecumenism: theological, pastoral, social and spiritual.

Do Not Fear To Hope

Garrison, NY

This program addresses the spiritual needs of people living with HIV/AIDS through support groups, pastoral counseling, and retreat programs.