Romana

In this section of Romana we periodically gather financial information corresponding to the previous year. In doing so, we also wish to express our gratitude for the help given by many benefactors who assist in the work of evangelization carried out by Opus Dei. Moreover, we should also remember that the faithful of the Prelature are ordinary Catholics, mostly lay people, who carry out a professional work. They support themselves like any other citizen and, to the extent of their possibilities (after providing for their personal and family support), they assist the financial needs of the Prelature and the apostolic initiatives to which the Prelature offers spiritual guidance: a university, a school, a social initiative, a residence or a center where formative activities are given. The directors of Opus Dei provide information about these initiatives, their needs and how to help out.

It was the explicit wish of the founder of Opus Dei (reflected in number 122 of the Statutes) that the Prelature not take on responsibility for the managerial, technical or financial aspects of these activities, or that it be the owner of the goods used for the various apostolic activities, but that it limit itself to providing Christian leaven for these initiatives. It is up to the faithful of the Work, in keeping with their secular condition, to assume full responsibility for the apostolic initiatives they organize as citizens. Therefore we need to distinguish the finances of the Prelature of Opus Dei from the independent financial functioning of these apostolic initiatives.

In any case, although in this bulletin the Prelature’s institutional financial information is limited to its central offices in Rome, data from some other regions is also included for illustrative purposes. In addition, information is offered on some of the apostolic initiatives that receive support from the faithful of the Prelature, as well as from cooperators and friends.

Finances of the Prelature

With regard to the Prelature as such, the faithful of Opus Dei and other benefactors offer alms and donations for the support and formation of its own clergy (cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 295, § 2), for the material functioning of the central offices (prelatic curia) and the governing bodies in the various circumscriptions, and for financial assistance to needy persons. The Prelature accepts only those donations required to cover these needs, with the desire not to accumulate funds.

a) Curia of the Prelature in Rome

In 2024, the operating expenses of Opus Dei’s central offices amounted to €3,169,134, broken down as follows:

1. Ordinary maintenance of the property (buildings included in the triangle formed by Viale Bruno Buozzi, Via di Villa Sacchetti, and Via Domenico Cirillo): €959,932. This amount does not include investment in renovations to the central offices (work on Villa Fontana).

2. Salaries, administrative and management expenses (including expenses for the offices of the General Council and the Central Advisory, the communications office, legal and accounting advice, alms, travel, etc.): €917,378. This amount has been increased by the payroll and social security costs of those who have been hired by the Prelature during 2024.

3. Maintenance and assistance expenses for those who help out in the work of the Prelatic Curia: €1,308,933. This item includes a provision for the future support of people who work in these tasks on a voluntary basis. It also includes expenses for the meals and care of people residing at the central office.

The investment allocated for the Villa Fontana renovations in 2024 was €6,995,353. The expenses were covered by donations from members and friends of Opus Dei, offered for this purpose over the years.

b) Countries where the Prelature is present

In the circumscriptions where it is established, the Prelature’s financial responsibility is limited to supporting its own clergy, running its administrative offices, and helping people in need. The regions of the Prelature are financially autonomous, and therefore there is no consolidation of accounts, although they all operate under the same principles of not accumulating more funds than are necessary to cover the purposes indicated above.

As an example, the total expenses of the Prelature in the Australian circumscription in 2024 were 307,000 Australian dollars (AUD), distributed as follows: AUD 145,000 (47%) for the support of priests, AUD 148,000 (48%) for operating and running costs (domestic services, transportation, maintenance, consumables, etc.), and AUD 14,000 (5%) for miscellaneous expenses. These expenses were covered by donations from members of Opus Dei (78%) and cooperators and friends (22%).

c) Other initiatives in Rome

The Roman College of the Holy Cross and the Roman College of Holy Mary are interregional centers for theological and spiritual formation, for men and women respectively, with their own structures. The Roman College of the Holy Cross is also the seat of the international seminary of Opus Dei. With about 120 residents, its financial turnover in 2024 was €2,707,108. The Roman College of Holy Mary has had 50 students from 18 different countries. Its financial turnover was €780,000. Both centers are supported by scholarships and contributions from the faithful of all the circumscriptions.

Also in Rome, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross offers four higher education degrees related to theology, philosophy, canon law and communication. A good part of the students are seminarians studying sacred sciences before being ordained priests, diocesan priests sent by their bishops to obtain licentiate and doctoral degrees, and religious. They come from every continent.

In 2024, income amounted to €13,235,159 (74% of which came from donations from institutions related to this university in various countries, which include donations from benefactors), and expenses amounted to €13,037,644, with a positive accounting result of €197,515. With regard to aid for the formation of priests, it is worth mentioning that the foundations associated with the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (thanks to thousands of donors) granted €2,004,850 in scholarships during 2024 to 250 students from needy countries whose bishops cannot afford this expense.

Financial functioning of the apostolic initiatives to which the Prelature offers spiritual assistance

These initiatives are educational and social institutions of a civil nature, brought forward by members of Opus Dei together with many other people. The Prelature takes responsibility for the pastoral care and Christian orientation, through an agreement with the promoters of each one. The juridical and financial concerns of these initiatives are the responsibility of civil juridical entities (associations, foundations, social cooperatives, etc.) that own and/or manage them, set up for this purpose. They are of course subject to the laws and regulations of each country, and report their financial results in accordance with the principles of transparency established by law and by their own statutes.

Each entity has its own governing bodies and is autonomous. That is, it has a clearly identifiable ownership and does not depend on the Prelature for its management or organization. They are financially sustained thanks to the income generated through their own activities (for example, the payment of tuition fees at a university) and, in many cases, also thanks to private donations and public subsidies in line with their purpose, as they are initiatives of social, educational and cultural interest.

As already mentioned, when they deem it appropriate, the Prelature’s directors inform the people of the Work and others about how to assist these initiatives. At the same time, they ensure that the initiatives meet the conditions for good management of assets (seriousness, temperance, transparency, etc.) and comply with their legal obligations.

The faithful of the Prelature also help out, to the extent of their possibilities, with the needs of the diocese and parish where they live. For example, through the regular collections for the missions (Domund), for Caritas, for the support of the diocesan seminary, and others that arise throughout the year to alleviate hunger or other basic needs. Many of them take part in other civil organizations dedicated to caring for the needy: soup kitchens, food banks, support associations for single mothers, medical clinics for the needy, etc.

In this issue of Romana, we draw attention, by way of example, to the financial reports of some institutions of this type: Strathmore University (Kenya) and the Laguna Care Center Hospital (Spain). In subsequent issues of Romana, information on other institutions on different continents will be included for illustrative purposes. The above-mentioned initiatives have authorized the publication of the information in this bulletin.

Strathmore University is a private university located in Nairobi, Kenya, renowned for its academic excellence and emphasis on ethical leadership. It offers 17 undergraduate programs, 22 graduate programs, and numerous professional and other programs tailored to specific disciplines, such as business, computer science, law, humanities, mathematical sciences, hospitality, and leadership. The university is known for its strong research culture and industry ties, which enhance the employability and professional standing of its graduates in the region. In addition, the university actively raises funds to provide scholarships and financial aid to deserving students, thereby assisting access to quality education.

Strathmore’s social impact extends beyond the academic sphere, with initiatives that support entrepreneurship, innovation, and community service. Faculties such as Strathmore Business School and research centers such as @iLabAfrica contribute to economic and technological advancement in Kenya and other countries. The university successfully generates income from various sources, including tuition fees, research grants, and executive and corporate training programs. These financial resources are used strategically to support the institution’s four main pillars: enhancing the transformative student experience, spurring research and innovation, promoting community service, and enriching the staff experience.

Strathmore University’s official annual reports, including audited financial data, are published at www.strathmore.edu.

The Laguna Care Center Hospital in Madrid was begun by the Vianorte-Laguna Foundation on the occasion of the centenary of St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer in 2002. It is a social and health care institution focused on palliative and end of life care. The dignity of each person, regardless of what their body or mind is capable of or how long they have to live, is its overriding concern. Laguna strives to care for every patient with the utmost professionalism and also with great affection. The hospital’s strategic priorities are: the provision of necessary palliative care for patients with advanced diseases and assistance for their families; the care of Alzheimer’s patients and highly dependent elderly; spreading a culture of care and commitment to life right until the end; and training caregivers, volunteers, and professionals according to a model of care based on human dignity.

Laguna cares for around 200 people every day, 100 in inpatient units and another 100 at home or on an outpatient basis. It has over 180 professionals from various specialties: doctors, nurses, psychologists, therapists, assistants, and administrative and service staff. The institution’s prestige makes it a global benchmark for end-of-life care. It has received numerous awards and seals of approval, such as the seals of excellence from the Lealtad Foundation and Madrid Excelente.

Laguna is financially supported by its own income, subsidies, and donations. For more information, please visit https://www.lagunacuida.org/qu..., where audited annual financial data is also provided.

Other charitable and solidarity initiatives

Among the charitable initiatives brought forward by the faithful of Opus Dei, there are many that provide services to the most disadvantaged sectors of society. The Condoray Institute of Higher Education in Peru and the Nocedal Foundation in Chile are two examples.

Condoray is an institute of higher education for women in Cañete (Peru). It offers three-year programs providing high-quality technical vocational training with a humanistic approach in administrative management, accounting, and hospitality and restaurant services management. It aims to inspire students to take responsibility for their own development and that of their environment through professional and personal training. Since its inception, it has provided education to more than 30,000 women in the Cañete Valley. It also develops social responsibility programs in partnership with collaborating companies, according to the needs of each area. The transparency portal on the Condoray website (https://www.condoray.edu.pe/po...) provides information on the costs of each course and agreements with the Ministry of Education, among other details. In addition to tuition fees and public subsidies, part of its management is covered by private donations and agreements with companies that sponsor several of the career guidance courses (https://www.condoray.edu.pe/).

Since 1996, the Nocedal Foundation has been promoting educational initiatives in Chile, fostering the comprehensive development of individuals, especially those most in need, through excellent human and educational training inspired by the Catholic faith. The foundation currently runs four free schools and a family support center in two outlying districts of Santiago, Chile, serving 3,247 students. It already has more than 1,500 graduates. The education provided by the schools is complemented by technical degrees in the following areas: electronics, telecommunications, nursing, administration, and programming. This mid-level professional technical degree enables students to pursue higher technical education, obtain work, and study other careers. Each student’s education is funded through a combination of state subsidies and donations from companies and individuals committed to transforming lives through quality education. The foundation’s financial reports are available in its annual report, accessible on its website: https://www.nocedal.cl/wp/dond....