Privacy Policy

Who we are

This Privacy Policy describes how Virgin Mary & St. John Coptic Orthodox Church (the “Church,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and shares information in connection with the Virgin Mary & St. John Church mobile application (the “App”), also referred to as the Virgin Mary & St. John Church App.

The Church is the developer of the App and is responsible for the information described in this policy.

• Developer / legal entity: Virgin Mary & St. John Coptic Orthodox Church
• App name: Virgin Mary & St. John Church
• Address: 22 W 20th Street, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002, United States
• Privacy contact: application@virginmarybayonne.com

This policy applies to the Android and iOS versions of the App.

1. Information we collect

We collect the following categories of information when you create an account and use the App.

Personal information

• Name (first and last name)
• Email address
• User IDs (a unique account identifier assigned to you)
• Address (street, city, state, and ZIP code)
• Phone number
• Date of birth

You may also provide optional details such as church service participation and household membership, including your relationship to other household members who use the App.

Photos

• Profile photo

Device or other IDs

Device or other IDs, including a hashed device identifier and push notification tokens, used to deliver notifications and help protect accounts

App info and performance

Other app performance data: limited records of app and account activity used to operate and secure the App (for example, security-related events and a history of profile changes)

Account credentials and sign-in

You may sign in with email and password, Google Sign-In, or Sign in with Apple (iOS). If you use Google or Apple, we receive your name, email address, and, if available, profile photo from that provider.

Information you create in the App

Depending on the features you use, we may also store:

• Notification preferences
• Prayer requests sent to clergy (stored in encrypted form)
• Confession appointment bookings
• Daily verse reflections (stored in encrypted form)
• In-app notification history

Your language preference is stored on your device only.

Information we do not collect

We do not collect race or ethnicity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. We do not use advertising identifiers for advertising, and we do not sell personal information.

2. How we use your information

We use your information to:

• Allow the church to serve you better
• Provide, maintain, and improve the App
• Create and manage your account and profile
• Send announcements, event notices, and other notifications you choose to receive
• Enable church features such as households, prayer requests, and confession appointments
• Communicate with you about church activities
• Protect the App, prevent fraud and abuse, and enforce our terms

3. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share it for advertising.

We share information only as needed to operate the App:

• Church clergy and authorized staff, as needed to provide requested services (for example, prayer requests and confession appointments)
• Household members, who may see limited profile information such as name and profile photo
• Service providers that process data on our behalf, including our cloud hosting and authentication provider; Google, if you use Google Sign-In; Apple, if you use Sign in with Apple; and Expo, for push notification delivery

If you choose to give through PayPal or Zelle, that transaction is handled by those services. The App does not collect payment card numbers.

We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the Church, the App, or others.

4. Third-party services

The App uses the following third-party services:

• Supabase: cloud hosting, database, and authentication
• Google Sign-In: optional authentication
• Sign in with Apple: optional authentication on Apple devices
• Expo: push notification delivery

These services have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them. Giving through PayPal or Zelle, if you choose to do so, is also subject to those services’ policies.

5. Data storage and security

Your information is stored with our cloud hosting and authentication provider. We use industry-standard safeguards, including encryption, secure authentication, and access controls. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure.

6. Data retention and deletion

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the App. The App does not offer instant self-service account deletion. To request deletion, go to Profile → Request account deletion in the App, or email us as described on our Account Deletion page. We process verified requests within 30 days. Limited security and audit records may be retained for up to 90 days.

7. Your rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Opt out of certain communications
• Export your data

To exercise these rights, contact us at the email address below. To request account deletion, use Profile → Request account deletion in the App or email us as described on our Account Deletion page.

8. Children’s privacy

The App is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us. Parents or guardians may also contact us to request deletion of a child’s data.

9. California privacy rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell your personal information.

10. International users

If you use the App from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and stored in the United States. By using the App, you consent to this transfer.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated policy in the App and on our website and revise the “Last updated” date. Please review this policy periodically.