Divine Mercy Religious Shop Ministries Inc

THE CORPORATION (DIVINE MERCY RELIGIOUS SHOP MINISTRIES INC) IS ORGANIZED AND SHALL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES AND NOT FOR PECUNIARY PROFIT OR FINANCIAL GAIN. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, THE CORPORATION SHALL PROMOTE THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH BY AIDING AND ASSISTING IN THE DISSEMINATION OF FAITH-BASED BELIEFS, INFORMATION, MATERIALS, AND ITEMS THROUGH SUCH MEANS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE CIRCULATION, DONATION AND SALES OF RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, AND FAITH-RELATED MATERIALS AND ITEMS; THE CONDUCTING, HOSTING AND SPONSORING OF FAITH-BASED CLASSES, DISCUSSIONS, MEETINGS, EVENTS AND WEBSITE; THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT OF VOCATIONS TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD, DIACONATE AND RELIGIOUS LIFE; AND THE PROMOTION AND SUPPORT OF SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTED CONSISTENT WITH THE TEACHINGS OF THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

SALES OF RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND FAITH-RELATED MATERIALS AND ITEMS MINISTRY/PROGRAM: ALL VOLUNTEERS STAFF DMRSM'S 4,000 SQ FT RETAIL SHOP 23 HOURS A WEEK. DMRSM RECEIVES A SIGNIFICANT FACILITY USAGE DONATION. DMRSM MAIN GOALS FOR THE SHOP ARE AS FOLLOWS: TO PROVIDE A WARM AND INVITING ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN SHARE THEIR FAITH AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER; PROVIDE A WIDE SELECTION OF THE ABOVE MATERIALS (OVER 13,000 SKUS IN STOCK), AT VERY REASONABLE EVERYDAY PRICES (USUALLY 20% OFF MSRP WITH ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS FOR CLERGY AND BARGAIN SALES TO LOCAL CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS NON-PROFITS), INCLUDING SOME ITEMS AT COST USED BY INDIVIDUALS TO EVANGELIZE (1080 DYNAMIC CATHOLIC BOOKS SOLD AT SHOP'S $2 COST) SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BOTH FIND AND AFFORD WHAT THEY NEED TO PROGRESS IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUAL JOURNEY; GENERATE THE BULK OF THE REVENUE NEEDED TO FUND THE OTHER MINISTRIES OFFERED AND BEING DEVELOPED BY DMRSM. DMRSM WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE AS A VENDOR AT LOCAL CATHOLIC CONFERENCES AND PARISH EVENTS. UNFORTUNATE COVID 19 AND NYS MANDATES REQUIRED THE SHOP TO CLOSE IN MARCH 2020, AND BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE ADVANCED AGE AND HEALTH ISSUES OF MOST OF ITS VOLUNTEERS THE SHOP DID NOT RE-OPEN AT ALL FOR THE REST OF THIS TAX YEAR. DMRSM COMMITTED TO ITS LANDLORD, ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH TO CONTINUE PAYING ITS MONTHLY RENT. DMRSM WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY PPP ASSISTANCE. THESE FACTORS WERE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO DMRSM'S OVERALL FINANCIAL LOSS THIS TAX YEAR.

FREE DISSEMINATION AND CIRCULATION OF FAITH-BASED BELIEFS, INFORMATION, MATERIALS AND ITEMS MINISTRY/PROGRAM: DMRSM CURRENTLY PURCHASES AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO FORMED.ORG, A CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT WEBSITE, THAT IT MAKES AVAILABLE TO ITS CUSTOMER FOR FREE TO HELP THEM, AND THEIR FAMILIES GROW IN THEIR FAITH. OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TOLD US HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATED HAVING ACCESS TO THIS WEBSITE DURING THE COVID19 LOCK DOWN. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A FREE LENDING LIBRARY IN THE SHOP THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE DURING SHOP HOURS. WE HAVE 2,200 VOLUMES SO FAR, MOST HAVE BEEN DONATED BY CUSTOMERS AND THE REST TRANSFERRED FROM DMRSM'S SHOP BOOK INVENTORY. DMRSM'S CUSTOMERS WILLINGNESS TO DONATE USED BOOKS AND OLD COMPUTERS FOR THE LIBRARY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ITS SUCCESS. DMRSM IS ALSO DEVELOPING A WEBSITE IT HOPES TO DESIGN IN SUCH A WAY USERS WILL HAVE EASY ACCESS TO A CURATED INFORMATION FROM GREAT CATHOLIC WEBSITES, WHICH TODAY IS DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT COULD GREATLY ENHANCE THEIR FAITH JOURNEY.

DONATIONS (GOODS, MONEY, FREE PROMOTION AND EXPERTISE) IN SUPPORT OF BOTH VOCATIONS TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD, DIACONATE AND RELIGIOUS LIFE, AND SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTED CONSISTENT WITH THE TEACHINGS OF THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH MINISTRY/PROGRAM: DMRSM ESTABLISHED A SEMINARIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER'S SEMINARIANS GIVING THEM AN ANNUAL IN-HOUSE CREDIT (INITIALLY $100) THAT THEY CAN SPEND IN THE SHOP, AS WELL AS AN EXTRA 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL THEIR PURCHASES ABOVE THIS AMOUNT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED JUST BEFORE THE COVID LOCK DOWN SO THE SEMINARIANS WILL BE UNABLE TO UTILIZE IT UNTIL THE SHOP RE-OPENS. DMRSM'S GRANTS/DONATIONS ARE DOWN FROM LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID19 CLOSURE BECAUSE MOST OF THESE DONATIONS ARE EITHER THROUGH BARGAIN SALES AT DMRSM COST TO CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (21 SEPARATE CHURCHES/RELIGIOUS ORGS PARTICIPATED) OR OUTRIGHT 100% DONATIONS OF SHOP INVENTORY. DMRSM WILL OCCASIONALLY DONATE A PORTION OF THE REVENUE IT GENERATES TO A CHURCH THAT HAS INVITED THE SHOP TO PARTICIPATE AS A VENDOR AT AN EVENT AT ITS CHURCH. DMRSM ALSO DISTRIBUTES FREE RELIGIOUS ARTICLES, DEVOTIONAL AND INFORMATION MATERIALS OF A DE MINIMIS VALUE TO ITS CUSTOMERS AND EVENT ATTENDEES. DMRSM HAS A CONFERENCE ROOM IT ALLOWS CHURCH GROUPS TO MEET IN, AT NO COST, AND CAN DISCUSS WITH THE DMRSM CEO HOW TO DEVELOP THEIR PARISH'S EVANGELIZATION PROGRAM AND THE MATERIALS AVAILABLE FROM THE SHOP TO ASSIST THEM. DMRSM ALLOWS CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE THE SHOP WITH POSTERS AND HANDOUTS TO PROMOTE ITS EVENTS TO SHOP CUSTOMERS.