Mother Of Mercy Foundation Inc

IN JUNE OF 2018, THE ORGANIZATION BECAME AWARE OF THE GROWING INTEREST IN CATHOLIC DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF AMERICA, THE IMMACULATE VIRGIN, PATRONESS OF AMERICA WHICH HAS ITS HISTORIC ORIGIN AT OUR PROPERTY. WE ALSO WERE INFORMED THAT CATHOLIC BISHOP KEVIN C. RHOADES, BISHOP OF FORT WAYNE SOUTH BEND HAD FORMED A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE DEVOTION. AS A RESULT, THE BOARD WAS EXPANDED WITH A FOCUS TO RECOVER THE CHAPEL AND BUILDINGS IN PREPARATION FOR RECEIVING PILGRIMS. WITH THAT, A PLAN WAS UNDERTAKEN TO RECOVER THE BUILDING WHICH WAS MOSTLY VACANT FOR 10 YEARS. MAJOR BENEFACTORS WERE ACQUIRED FOR THIS WORK. 2019 WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY REMEDIATION OF MOLD, REMOVE NON-HISTORIC BUILDINGS, CLEAN OUT, ASSESSMENT OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, ROOF MAINTENANCE AND DRYING OUT THE BUILDINGS. 2020 IS EXPECTED TO BE RENOVATION OF KEY PUBLIC AREAS, INSTALLATION OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WITH EXPECTED OPENING TO PILGRIMS IN THE FALL. ON MAY 7, 2020, BISHOP RHOADES AND 5 OTHER U.S. BISHOPS DECLARED THE DEVOTION TO

WHILE STILL UNDER THE CLOUD OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE MOTHER OF MERCY FOUNDATION CONTINUED OUR PROGRESS IN 2021. COVID DELAYED OUR GROWTH IN PILGRIMS (VISITORS) THROUGH MOST OF 2020. WITH COMPLETION OF BATHROOMS, CONFERENCE ROOM, WELCOME CENTER, AND CHAPEL THE CENTER WAS OPENED TO PILGRIMS IN LATE SPRING WITH TOURS, HOLY MASS AND CONFESSIONS. IN THIS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, WE RECEIVED MORE THAN 3,000 PILGRIMS. BY MAY A REGULAR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WAS SET. BUILDING ON THE DECREE (MAY 2020) OF BISHOP KEVIN C. RHOADES THE CENTER FOCUSED ON SERVING PILGRIMS, WHICH SAW A CONSISTENT QUARTER OVER QUARTER INCREASE IN PILGRIMS. IN NOVEMBER, BISHOP RHOADES COMMITTED TO OFFERING THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS ON AUGUST 6TH OF 2022. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ENDORSEMENT OF THE GOOD FRUITS COMING FROM THE CENTER AND ILLUSTRATIVE OF HIS SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION. OUR DONOR BASE EXPANDED GREATLY. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFERED A 2-1 MATCH FOR NON-MAJOR DONORS WHICH STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2021. BY THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN IN MARCH 2022, WE RAISED MORE THAN 575,000. THIS RESPONSE PLACED THE FOUNDATION INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC CHARITY THRESHOLD TEST, WHICH NOW APPEARS TO HAVE A SOLID BASE OF DONORS GOING FORWARD. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO ENJOY A GROWING LEVEL OF PILGRIM PARTICIPATION, VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS THAT IS CONTINUING INTO 2022.