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S.O.S.M., Inc. POB 123 Mansfield, MA 02048
SOSM, Inc., is a Non-profit Catholic Corporation, incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA, with the scope and purpose of promoting the Catholic Faith by means of supporting traditional Franciscan Religious.
We Appeal to Your Charity . . .
In assisting us, for the Love of the Most Holy Trinity and St. Francis,
a Traditional Franciscan Monastery of the Ancient Observance,
under the direction and
supervision of Br. Alexis Bugnolo,
Donations can be made by check through the surface mail, via our address at the top of the page. Please make donations payable to: “SOSM, Inc.: Monastery Fund”
Why a New Monastery?
As you may know, the Catholic Faith today is under siege by many who would have the Catholic Faithful accept a new religion, in harmony with the values of the world, the flesh and the devil. Franciscan Life likewise has undergone a dramatic departure from the original ideals of St. Francis Assisi, to the point that today a Franciscan is more often thought of as a pacifist, ecologist, hippie and freethinker.
But it was not always so.
St. Francis of Assisi was, and has been hailed by more than 25 Popes as, a truly Catholic and entirely Apostolic Man. He was outstanding for the orthodoxy of his Catholic Faith, his most firm loyalty to the Ancient Roman Rite, and his unwavering following of Christ Crucified in poverty, obedience and chastity.
For more than 750 years these ideals inspired the Friars of the Order of Friars Minor. But with the advent of the Second Vatican Council, moved by an imprudent zeal, the firm foundations of Franciscan Life were removed, resulting in the lost of many thousands of friars from the Order.
Nearly all of these friars discontinued living the Rule of St. Francis. But. Br. Alexis Bugnolo, after much prayer and discernment, resolved to remain faithful to the Saint’s Example and Intention, and continued despite all the obstacles.
After 10 years of living on his own as best he could as a guest in the homes of relatives and benefactors, Br. Bugnolo intends now to establish a Monastery where he can welcome and train other vocations in traditional Franciscan life, for the good of the Church and the honor and glory of God.
The establishment of such a Monastic Foundation will greatly assist the Catholic Faithful in the practice of their faith by ensuring an institution to provide for the formation and housing of devout catholic friars, both priests and brothers, to serve the spiritual needs of us all, through the ministry of the sacraments, their prayers and good example, and the other spiritual programs and events organized for the faithful at the Monastery.
SOSM, Inc. asks you to join with us in helping raise the funds for this project, and meriting with us part of the grace and mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ in such a holy project.
Such a foundation is a serious undertaking, and presents a long-term need for the financial assistance of benefactors and donors. Some can assist by whatever small donation they can make on a one time basis and/or pledge at regular intervals; others by the donation of a suitable property; still others of those furnishings necessary.
Still others will be able to ensure the long term stability of the Monastery by offering in your last will and testament a bequest in favor of the Monastery. For more information regarding this please contact the Corporation the above address.
All who offer material assistance will be included in the daily prayers of the friars of the Monastery for as long as it may please God that it shall last on this earth. By any of these means you will do good for the sake of St. Francis in the sight of the Lord and dispose yourself better in the sight of God to receive the graces and mercies which you seek from Our Most High Jesus Christ and his servant St. Francis.
A Brief History of the Non-Profit Corporation
SOSM., Inc., was founded in the Fall of 2002, by Br. Alexis Bugnolo, with the expressed purpose of Saving Old Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Mansfield, MA, from disrepair and decrepitude. At the time the property, which had been quietly sold by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts to a private party, had in turn just been sold to the Al-Noor Academy, the first Islamic High School in New England.
Though SOSM, Inc.’s efforts in obtaining a commitment from the Academy, to name a price to redeem Old St. Mary’s Church, were ultimately unfruitful, the non-profit corporation remained in existence to further other worthy Catholic Charitable works in the future.
SOSM, Inc., is wholly governed by trusted, Roman Catholic laymen, who exercise their responsibility for the corporation in accord with the applicable laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and U.S. Federal Law.
Donations made to the corporation will be consigned entirely to the funding of the Monastic Foundation, unless otherwise specified. Since according to the Rule of St. Francis, Franciscan Monks cannot receive or own property of any kind, not even money, the Corporation will retain the ownership and legal title to all the funds charitably donated to the Monastery, until such time as they are transferred to the non-Profit which will control and maintain the Monastery. Those benefactors who give more than $100 annually are invited to request a copy of our annual report and financial disclosure.
SOSM, Inc. is not associated nor affiliated with any other entity or Charity, and has no financial relationship or legal obligation to any other entity. The corporation is entirely independent of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River and every other entity under the authority of the National Catholic Bishop’s Conference. S.O.S.M., Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, recognized by the IRS on Sept. 10, 2007 A.D., as being such since its foundation on the Feast of St. Felix of Valois, Nov. 20, 2002 A.D..
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