About Gospa Missions
We are comprised of two non-profit foundations. The first, Gospa Missions is a 501 (c) 3 private foundation which is involved in Catholic publishing, religous goods sales, evangelization and general faith building. We produce Catholic conferences, retreats and parish missions.
The second entity is Abode for Children. It is also a 501 (c) 3, but will be a public foundation. We are trying to fulfill the scriptural requirement of taking care of orphans and pray you will participate in this endeavor through sponsorship.
Gospa is the term which means "Our Lady" in the six republics of the former Yugoslavia, which formed much of the culture of the northeastern United States. We exist to evangelize and help others.
Gospa Missions has built an orphanage, school and convent in Ogoja, Nigeria, Africa, which cares for and educates 550 children. We are now involved in building our second orphanage and school in India. Gospa Missions has also helped restore some of the damage in former Yugoslavia caused by the war. Our $50,000 donation to the bishop of Dubrovnik, Croatia, helped restore Saint Anne Church, which would have been demolished if it were not for the contribution. Several other churches, such as Saints Peter and Paul Church in Mostar, Bosnia, received substantial assistance for their restoration efforts as well.
We operate two religious stores: one in Evans City, PA and this one on the Internet. The stores operate under the name Amazing Grace and help fund some of our charitable operations. The Evans City store is a first class facility and is an asset to the community. The three-story Main Street headquarters building consists of the store, warehousing, offices and upstairs apartments. We publish a monthly newsletter that is mainstream Catholic and includes a religious goods supplement, which adds volume to our mail order business.
Gospa Mission publishes Thomas Rutkoski's four books, Apostles of the Last Days, Miracles and How to Work Them, Great Divide and My Scriptural Rosary . He also has had several video and audio tapes. Thomas and his wife Mary have traveled extensively, all over the world, speaking and sharing what God has done in their lives. Thomas has given over one thousand presentations internationally.
On the local front, another former endeavor was the Ravens Project. The mission raised vegetables on the Rutkoski farm and stored them until distribution in an underground facility that the mission constructed there. This ecumenical project aided the Butler and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area food pantries, which had suffered from government and local cutbacks.
Our most creative way of evangelizing is The Chocolate Rosary. Gospa Missions and Pittsburgh's famous Betsy Ann Chocolates have created a unique fundraiser especially suited to Catholic organizations. The package contains a one-decade rosary made of the finest chocolate, a beautiful (actual) rosary imported from Italy and a full-color pamphlet on how to pray the Rosary. This fundraiser addresses the sweet tooth as well as the soul, so we call it The Sweetest Way to Pray. The Chocolate Rosary is proving to be an exceptionally good seller, which generates much-needed funds for schools and church organizations.
Many volunteers assist our small staff. Fathers William Kiel and William Ritzert, the spiritual directors, and an advisory board of directors, guide the mission. For more information or if you would like to help through the donation of your time, talent, treasure and/or prayers, please contact us.
