World Apostolate of Fatima

What World Apostolate of Fatima does

World Apostolate of Fatima USA is a 501(c)(3) Catholic nonprofit organization (EIN 22-2297353) that operates as the Vatican's designated Public International Association of the Faithful on the authentic message of Our Lady of Fatima. Founded in 1947 in New Jersey by Msgr. Harold V. Colgan and John M. Haffert as the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, it was renamed and elevated to its current status by the Vatican on October 7, 2010. Between 30 and 40 million individuals have signed the Blue Army Pledge since founding, and the organization maintains a Diocesan Division network across the United States plus an international headquarters at the Domus Pacis Hotel in Fatima, Portugal. Its mission centers on promoting Marian devotion, daily Rosary prayer, the First Saturday Devotion, Home Enthronement, and the conversion of sinners through prayer, sacrifice, and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The organization's product surface spans educational content, devotional programs, media, and physical merchandise. Core programs include Prayer Cells, the 54-Day Rosary Novena, the Home Enthronement ceremony, the recently launched Fatima Friends Adventure Guide (a children's activity book priced at $24.95 retail / $19.95 bulk for parishes and schools), and the First Saturday Virtual Pilgrimage launching December 2025. Media properties include the Fatima Today Podcast, educational videos at watch.bluearmy.com, Soul Magazine archives, and a blog. Blue Army Press operates as the publishing arm, while the Fatima Gift Shop (shopfatima.com) sells rosaries, scapulars, statues, books, and devotional items. The National Blue Army Shrine in Asbury, New Jersey, featuring a 24-foot bronze statue of Mary, serves as the U.S. operational headquarters and a designated pilgrimage site for the Extraordinary Marian Jubilee Year. Distribution also extends through a partnership with the Hallow Prayer App (August 2025) and the Pilgrim Virgin Statue touring program that brings replica statues into parishes nationwide.

Revenue is generated primarily through tax-deductible individual donations and charitable contributions, supplemented by gift shop merchandise sales, candle sales at the shrine, and unit-priced educational materials. The go-to-market model is community-led, relying on individual member recruitment via the Blue Army Pledge, parish-level prayer cells coordinated through Diocesan Divisions, and event-driven pilgrimage traffic at the shrine. Leadership consists of Executive Director David M. Carollo (in role since 2012), a Shrine and Retreat Manager, a Communications/Media lead, a Gift Shop Manager, a Shrine Chaplain, and other operational staff. The organization is governed by a board of trustees under ecclesiastical authority and is supported by partnerships with MyCatholicWill (legacy giving), the Coalition of Eucharistic and Marian Apostolates, and World Apostolate of Fatima International. No funding rounds, audited revenue, or headcount figures are disclosed in the input.

Name

World Apostolate of Fatima

Legal name

World Apostolate of Fatima USA

Website

https://bluearmy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The World Apostolate of Fatima is a Vatican-designated 501(c)(3) Catholic nonprofit that promotes the message of Our Lady of Fatima through devotional programs, educational materials, media content, and the National Blue Army Shrine, serving individual Catholic devotees, parishes, and pilgrims in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL), Religious Radio Broadcasting (MPAIAEAF)

Keywords

• Catholic devotional programs
• Marian spiritual formation
• Catholic pilgrimage services
• Religious educational publishing
• Faith-based community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Asbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the Catholic apostolate mission. World Apostolate of Fatima USA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with EIN 22-2297353.
2. Gift Shop Sales: Sale of Fatima-related merchandise including books, rosaries, scapulars, statues, movies, and devotional items through the Fatima Gift Shop (shopfatima.com).
3. Candle Sales: Sale of candles for lighting in honor of loved ones at the shrine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The World Apostolate of Fatima (also known as the Blue Army) operates as a Vatican-recognized Public International Association of the Faithful that spreads the message of Our Lady of Fatima through devotional programs (First Saturday Devotion, Prayer Cells, Home Enthronement, 54-Day Rosary Novena), educational and media content (podcasts, videos, Soul Magazine, books via Blue Army Press), youth formation materials, and parish outreach via the Pilgrim Virgin Statue Program. It also operates the National Blue Army Shrine in Asbury, New Jersey as a pilgrimage site and the Fatima Gift Shop selling devotional merchandise.

Product overview

The World Apostolate of Fatima operates as a single unified mission organization focused on spreading the message of Our Lady of Fatima. The core offerings include educational programs (Fatima Friends Adventure Guide, Prayer Cells), pilgrimage experiences (First Saturday Virtual Pilgrimage, National Blue Army Shrine visits), devotional practices (Home Enthronement, 54 Day Rosary Novena), and media content (Fatima Today Podcast, Video Resources, Soul Magazine, Blog). Supporting infrastructure includes Blue Army Press publishing division, the Fatima Gift Shop for merchandise, the Pilgrim Virgin Statue Program for parish outreach, a network of Diocesan Divisions nationwide, and a Fatima Speakers Bureau. The organization serves as the Vatican's official voice on the authentic Fatima message.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fatima Friends Adventure Guide An activity book for children ages 7-10 that introduces the Fatima message through the 'Fatima Five' characters and activities, with a companion guide for parents and teachers. Priced at $24.95 per copy with bulk pricing of $19.95 each (10+ copies) for parishes, schools, and homeschool co-ops.
• First Saturday Virtual Pilgrimage A 12-month virtual pilgrimage program guiding participants through 12 sacred Fatima holy sites with monthly video content and guided meditations from Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR. Available for purchase via shopfatima.com with a pilgrimage passport.
• Prayer Cell Program Booklet A small-group program booklet ($5 per copy) where members gather regularly to pray the Rosary and study the Fatima message together, forming a global prayer network. Includes Fatima prayers, Rosary reflections, and the story of Fatima.
• Fatima Gift Shop Online retail store selling devotional items including rosaries, scapulars, books, statues, movies, candles, and Fatima-specific merchandise. Operated as the primary retail channel for the apostolate's merchandise sales.
• Blue Army Press Publishing division producing books, pamphlets, and devotional materials about the Fatima message. Operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the World Apostolate of Fatima.
• National Blue Army Shrine Physical shrine and pilgrimage site in Asbury, New Jersey, designated as an official pilgrimage site for the Extraordinary Marian Jubilee Year. Features a 24-foot bronze statue of Mary and serves as a venue for devotions, retreats, and pilgrimages.
• Pilgrim Virgin Statue Program A program that brings a replica of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima to parishes across America for visits and devotion, enabling parishes to share the message of Fatima with their communities.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Domus Pacis HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel and conference center in Fatima, Portugal, built by the organization to house pilgrims and serve as headquarters for the international World Apostolate of Fatima.
• Hallow Prayer AppmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Hallow Prayer app to feature an exclusive First Saturday program beginning August 2025, as announced during the Extraordinary Marian Jubilee Year.
• MyCatholicWillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering free Catholic will creation services to supporters, enabling legacy giving to sustain the mission.
• World Apostolate of Fatima InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational umbrella organization with headquarters in Fatima, Portugal. WAF USA operates under this international structure as the U.S. national arm.
• Ave Maria InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in the early 1950s on John Haffert's farm in Washington, New Jersey, served as administrative center for the Blue Army before the shrine was developed.
• Coalition of Eucharistic and Marian ApostolatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for the 54-Day Rosary Novena for Mercy initiative, joining thousands across the nation in prayer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Relevant Radio: Listener-supported Catholic radio network with programming centered on prayer, devotion, and catechesis. Directly comparable to WAF on Catholic audio/podcast reach and donation-driven ministry.
• Ave Maria Press: Catholic publishing arm of the University of Notre Dame producing books and devotional materials. Closely comparable to Blue Army Press on faith-based publishing for parishes and schools.
• CatholicTV Network: Catholic television and digital media apostolate producing devotional, educational, and liturgical content. Closely comparable to WAF's video resources and Fatima Today Podcast offerings.
• Magnificat: Monthly Catholic prayer companion publication featuring daily Mass readings, prayers, and meditations. Comparable to WAF's Soul Magazine and devotional content distribution model.
• Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN): The largest Catholic media network in the world, broadcasting Catholic programming globally via TV, radio, and digital channels. Most directly comparable to WAF on multi-channel Catholic media distribution, devotional programming, and donor-supported nonprofit model.
• Catholic Answers: Catholic apologetics and evangelization organization producing books, media, and digital content. Comparable to WAF on faith formation content production and parish/diocesan outreach.
• Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: The largest Catholic church in North America and a major U.S. Marian pilgrimage destination. Comparable to the National Blue Army Shrine as a domestic Catholic pilgrimage venue and gift shop operator.
• National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima (Fatima, Portugal): The canonical Fatima shrine in Portugal operated by the Catholic Church at the site of the 1917 apparitions. Directly comparable as the primary pilgrimage and devotional anchor for the Fatima message globally.

Emerging players

• National Catholic Register: Catholic news and opinion publication with a focus on faith, culture, and devotion. Comparable to WAF's Soul Magazine and blog operations in the Catholic publishing space.
• Hallow: Leading Catholic prayer and meditation app with millions of users. Overlaps with WAF through the August 2025 First Saturday partnership and represents a comparable digital channel for reaching younger Catholic audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FatimaBlueArmy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/OurLadysBlueArmy/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/OurLadysBlueArmy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-apostolate-of-fatima-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/fatima_bluearmy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about World Apostolate of Fatima