Oblates of the Virgin Mary

What Oblates of the Virgin Mary does

The Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a 501(c)(3) Catholic religious congregation founded in 1826 by Venerable Bruno Lanteri and officially approved by Pope Leo XII on September 1, 1826. The US Province (St. Ignatius Province) was established in Boston on September 12, 1976, by Fr. Vincenzo Antolini, and now operates 9 communities across Massachusetts, Illinois, California, Colorado, Florida, and the Philippines. Core operations comprise 57 ordained priests and 2 permanently professed brothers, supporting parish ministry (San Pedro, St. Mary's, St. Peter Chanel, Holy Ghost), retreat houses (St. Joseph Retreat House in Milton MA; Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Venice FL), the Eucharistic Shrine for the Archdiocese of Boston (St. Clement), St. Francis Chapel at the Prudential Center, and the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Denver. Our Lady of Grace Seminary provides 8-year formation for new priests and brothers.

The congregation's product portfolio spans in-person spiritual direction, directed retreats (30-day, 8-day, 5-day, weekend, day-of-recollection formats), parish missions, and Eucharistic adoration, complemented by digital products including daily Mass live-streaming from St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine (181,573 views in 2025), the Brews With Bruno podcast, and a virtual workshop catalog (Overcoming Spiritual Discouragement, The Path to Healing Our Broken Hearts, 10 Weeks to Spiritual Advancement). Technology is straightforward: live-streaming, podcast distribution on YouTube and major platforms, and self-paced video delivery, with no proprietary software or AI/ML systems disclosed. Underlying content is rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and Marian devotion, with formation taught in an evocative-contemplative Ignatian style.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and nonprofit fundraising rather than commercial sales. Streams include the Annual Fund, Perpetual Mass Enrollment fees, one-time Mass requests, planned giving (bequests, retirement assets, insurance, endowment), annual gala fundraising (over $500,000 raised at the 2026 Gala), and a retail bookstore carrying works by OMV priests. Gala sponsorship tiers range from $1,000 (Nunc Coepi) to $100,000 (Our Lady of Grace Sponsor). Customer segments span individual Catholics seeking spiritual growth, Catholic parishes and dioceses needing clergy staffing, men discerning priestly vocations, and a global digital audience reached through online ministries. The organization operates internationally with ministry in the US, Philippines, Brazil, Argentina, and Nigeria.

Name

Oblates of the Virgin Mary

Legal name

St. Ignatius Province of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Inc.

Website

https://omvusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1826

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a Catholic religious congregation of 57 priests and 2 brothers, founded in 1826, providing spiritual direction, retreats, parish ministry, seminary formation, and digital evangelization across 9 communities in the US and Philippines, funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious / Catholic Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN), Religious/Faith-Based Radio Networks (MPABABAC), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Catholic retreats
• Spiritual direction
• Religious formation
• Ignatian spirituality
• Catholic ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Offerings: Primary revenue through donations to Annual Fund, general donations, and Mass offerings. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 04-2596681).
2. Perpetual Mass Enrollment: Enrollment fees for perpetual Mass remembrance, offering spiritual benefits to living and deceased loved ones through daily Mass at St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine
3. Mass Requests: One-time Mass offerings for special intentions, celebrated by Oblate priests throughout the US, Philippines, and Nigeria
4. Annual Fund: Annual giving campaign supporting core ministries, digital expansion, vocations, and seminarian formation
5. Planned Giving: Bequests, retirement accounts, insurance policies, and endowment funds for long-term support
6. Gala Events: Annual gala fundraising events, with 2026 Gala raising over half a million dollars for seminarian scholarship fund
7. Bookstore Sales: Online bookstore selling spiritual books, including works by Fr. Timothy Gallagher, Fr. Ed Broom, and others on Ignatian spirituality and Marian devotion

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Oblates of the Virgin Mary are a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers who provide spiritual ministries rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, including directed retreats at physical retreat centers, daily Mass and sacraments at parish churches and shrines, spiritual direction and director training at the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality, an eight-year priestly formation program at Our Lady of Grace Seminary, and digital evangelization through live-streamed Mass, podcasts, virtual workshops, and Mass enrollment programs.

Product overview

The Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a Catholic congregation offering a portfolio of spiritual ministry products and services. The core offerings include physical retreat centers (St. Joseph Retreat House in Milton, MA; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, FL) and sacred spaces (St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine and St. Francis Chapel in Boston). These are supported by the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Denver for spiritual director training. The ministry also provides virtual services including online workshops, the Brews With Bruno podcast, and live-streamed Masses. Enrollment programs include Perpetual Mass and Seasonal Novenas. Formation programs guide men through an eight-year journey to become Oblate priests and brothers through Our Lady of Grace Seminary. An online bookstore offers spiritual publications. All services flow from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and Marian devotion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• St. Joseph Retreat House Retreat center in Milton, Massachusetts offering directed retreats and spiritual direction inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Provides retreats ranging from one day to one month, including The Thirty Days, Eight-Day Directed Retreat, Five-Day Directed Retreat, Directed Retreat Weekends, Desert Days, and Days of Recollection.
• St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine Eucharistic Shrine for the Archdiocese of Boston located in Back Bay. Offers daily Mass, Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, Confession, and live-streamed daily Mass online. Houses Our Lady of Grace Seminary.
• St. Francis Chapel Roman Catholic chapel staffed by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary at the Prudential Center in Boston's Back Bay. Open 365 days a year with daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and a Gift Shop.
• Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality Center in Denver, CO providing spiritual direction, retreats, formation in Ignatian discernment, and spiritual director training programs.
• Oblates of the Virgin Mary Philippines OMV ministry presence in the Philippines with community locations in Cebu and Antipolo. Conducts retreats, recollections, seminary formation, and sacraments for Catholics throughout Asia including South Korea, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Macau, and Hong Kong.
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center Retreat center in Venice, Florida offering various types of retreats with a special focus on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Open to all seeking spiritual renewal.
• Spiritual Director Training Program Multi-stage program offered through the Lanteri Center providing intellectual and practical training for individuals to become spiritual directors. Includes the Prayer Partnering Program (Stage 1), Daily Life Workshop (Stage 2), and Intensive Summer Program, typically taking five years to complete.
• Virtual Workshops Free online workshop series covering spiritual topics including Overcoming Spiritual Discouragement (10-part series with Fr. Timothy Gallagher), The Path to Healing Our Broken Hearts (17-part series with Fr. Shawn Monahan), and 10 Weeks to Spiritual Advancement (with Fr. Ed Broom).
• Brews With Bruno Podcast Catholic podcast from the Oblates exploring prayer, vocation, perseverance, joy in Christ, and finding hope. Co-hosted by Fr. Paul Kallal and Fr. Jorge Sanchez, featuring guidance rooted in Venerable Bruno Lanteri's teachings.
• Perpetual Mass Enrollment Catholic tradition allowing individuals to share the graces of the Holy Mass with loved ones perpetually. The Oblates remember enrolled individuals daily at the altar, offering spiritual benefits from daily Mass, ongoing prayers, and devotions of priests and seminarians.
• Mass Requests Traditional Mass requests for intentions of loved ones, living or deceased, celebrated at the next available Mass by Oblate priests throughout the United States, Philippines, and Nigeria.
• Seasonal Novenas Nine consecutive days of Masses celebrating special holidays throughout the year including Father's Day, All Souls Day, Christmas, Easter, and Mother's Day at St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine, livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
• Oblate Formation Program Eight-year formation journey for men becoming Oblate priests and brothers, including Postulancy (2 years of philosophy and liberal arts), Novitiate (1 year of intense spiritual maturation), and Theologate (5 years of theology leading to a Master's degree and ordination).
• Spiritual Direction Spiritual direction services led by trained Oblates to help individuals hear and respond to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Rooted in the evocative-contemplative style of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, guiding people to deepen their relationship with God through prayer and sacraments.
• OMV Bookstore Online bookstore offering spiritual books by Fr. Timothy Gallagher, Fr. Ed Broom, Fr. Greg Cleveland, and others, with publications on Marian devotions, Ignatian discernment, and spiritual growth.
• Our Lady of Grace Seminary Seminary in Boston, MA where seminarians begin their formation process with the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, offering philosophical and theological education combined with spiritual formation and pastoral experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• 462,787 souls reached through digital evangelization in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sophia Institute PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic publisher appearing as gala sponsor, potentially aligned in mission of Catholic spiritual publishing.
• Archdiocese of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Clement Eucharistic Shrine serves as the official Eucharistic Shrine for the Archdiocese of Boston. OMV provides daily Mass, sacraments, and spiritual services to the archdiocese.
• Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMV has connections with FOCUS missionaries who help spread awareness of the Oblate vocation. Seminarians like Zach Smith came to OMV through FOCUS.
• Vatican/Pope Leo XIIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMV was approved by Pope Leo XII on September 1, 1826. Founder Venerable Bruno Lanteri's case for canonization is currently being investigated by the Vatican.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine): Catholic religious order operating parishes and retreat ministries across the US; comparable to OMV in parish staffing and retreat-focused apostolate.
• Congregation of Holy Cross: A Catholic religious congregation running parishes, retreat houses, and formation programs (e.g., Holy Cross Retreat House); comparable in structure to OMV with similar parish staffing and retreat ministry models.
• Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer): A Catholic religious congregation historically renowned for preaching parish missions and retreats—directly parallel to OMV's stated mission of accompanying souls through retreats, spiritual direction, and parish renewal.
• Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception: Catholic religious congregation with strong Marian focus, Divine Mercy devotion, retreat houses (Stockbridge, MA), digital evangelization, and publishing—directly comparable to OMV's Marian identity and Ignatian retreat model.
• Paulist Fathers (Paulists): A Catholic congregation of priests focused on evangelization, digital media (Busted Halo, relevantradio.com contributions), parish ministry, and spiritual renewal—directly comparable to OMV's mix of parish staffing, digital ministry, and retreat/spiritual direction work.
• Legionaries of Christ: A Catholic religious congregation with strong emphasis on priestly formation, retreats, and youth/young adult ministry—comparable to OMV's formation program and Come & See vocation events.
• Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans): Catholic religious congregation focused on parish ministry, missions, and formation, with significant presence in the US; comparable to OMV in operating model of staffing parishes and running formation programs.

Broad incumbents

• Order of Preachers (Dominicans): A major Catholic religious order operating parishes, retreat houses (e.g., St. Joseph Priory), and formation programs; broader scale than OMV but overlapping retreat and preaching mission.
• EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network): The largest Catholic media network globally with massive digital evangelization reach; a broader incumbent in Catholic digital ministry that competes for the same audience as OMV's live-streamed Mass, podcast, and virtual workshops.
• Society of Jesus (Jesuits) USA East Province: The largest Catholic religious order with extensive retreat houses, parishes, universities, and publishing in the Boston area (e.g., Campion Center); a broader incumbent offering overlapping retreat and formation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sfchapel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/omvusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/omvusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/omvusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oblates-of-the-virgin-mary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oblates of the Virgin Mary