Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics of St. Gianna

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: November 29, 2025

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics of St. Gianna (the “Organization,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a nonprofit religious organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. We are committed to respecting and protecting the privacy, dignity, and trust of all who engage with our ministry, including members, volunteers, donors, prayer partners, and website visitors throughout the world.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal information, and describes the rights available to individuals under applicable U.S. and international privacy laws.

1. Information We Collect

We collect only the information reasonably necessary to carry out our religious, charitable, and educational mission.

a. Personal Information You Provide Voluntarily

This may include:

Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
Donation Information: Donation amounts, dates, and acknowledgments. Payment information is processed securely by third-party payment processors; we do not store full credit card or banking details.
Prayer Requests and Testimonials: Information you choose to share, which may include sensitive personal details related to health, fertility, family life, or spiritual experiences.
Event or Program Participation: Information submitted when registering for events, requesting relic visits, prayer cards, or care packages.
Communication Preferences: Your choices regarding newsletters, ministry updates, or other communications.

b. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may collect:

IP address and general location data
Browser and device information
Pages visited and time spent on the site
Referring websites

This information is collected through cookies and analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) and is used only in aggregate to improve our website and outreach.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information solely for purposes consistent with our religious and charitable mission, including:

Ministry Services: Responding to prayer requests, relic visit inquiries, and fulfilling requests for prayer cards or care packages.
Donations and Tax Compliance: Processing donations, issuing acknowledgments, and maintaining records required by U.S. tax law and charitable regulations.
Communications: Sending newsletters, event notices, spiritual reflections, and ministry updates in accordance with your preferences and applicable laws.
Program Improvement: Understanding how our ministry is used and improving our outreach, resources, and website functionality.
Story Sharing (With Consent): Publishing testimonials or stories only with clear, informed, and explicit permission.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Complying with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, and lawful requests from authorities.

We do not engage in political campaigning, lobbying beyond what is legally permitted for 501(c)(3) organizations, or commercial use of personal data.

3. Legal Basis for Processing (International Visitors)

If you are located outside the United States, including in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with data protection laws, we process your personal data under one or more of the following lawful bases:

Your consent
The legitimate interests of a nonprofit religious organization
Legal obligations (such as tax or reporting requirements)
Performance of a requested service (e.g., responding to a prayer request or donation)

4. How We Share Information

We respect your trust and do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. We may share information only as follows:

a. Service Providers

Trusted third-party vendors who assist with:

Donation processing
Website hosting and analytics
Email communications
Shipping and fulfillment

These providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for authorized purposes.

b. Authorized Volunteers

Approved volunteers within the Sisterhood—located in the United States and internationally—may access limited information strictly as needed to fulfill prayer, correspondence, or ministry requests. Volunteers receive guidance on confidentiality and data stewardship.

c. Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law or if necessary to protect the rights, safety, or integrity of the Organization, its mission, or others.

5. Sensitive Personal Information

Prayer requests, fertility-related intentions, health concerns, and spiritual testimonies are considered highly sensitive. Submission of such information is entirely voluntary.

We treat this information with pastoral care and confidentiality.
We limit access to authorized personnel and volunteers.
We never publish or share sensitive information publicly without explicit written consent.

6. International Data Transfers

As a U.S.-based organization with international participation, your information may be processed or stored in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. We take reasonable steps to ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and that appropriate safeguards are in place.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct or update inaccurate information
Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent)
Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and record-keeping obligations
Restrict or object to certain processing activities
Opt out of marketing or newsletter communications at any time

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11.

8. Data Retention and Security

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill our mission or comply with legal, tax, and regulatory requirements.

Our website hosting provider and service partners employ reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. While no system is completely secure, we strive to steward all data with care and integrity.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website and ministry are not directed to children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent. If we become aware that such information has been submitted inadvertently, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in law, technology, or ministry operations. Updates will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. Continued use of our website or services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

Email

sisterhoodofthetravelingrelics@gmail.com

Mailing Address

Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics of St. Gianna
PO Box 7
Rockaway, NJ 07866
United States