Privacy Policy
How we protect your personal data and respect your privacy
as you engage with our ministry.
How we protect your personal data and uphold your trust
wherever you are in the world.
This Privacy Policy was last updated on 11 June, 2025 and applies to all visitors to the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission website, regardless of location. It is written in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable privacy standards.
1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission (“we”, “us”, “our”) collects, stores, and uses personal data through our website, https://apostolicoldcatholic.org (“the website”), email communication, and connected services. We are committed to handling your data in a transparent, secure, and lawful way — consistent with our values and obligations.
2. Who we are
The Apostolic Old Catholic Mission operates under the sacramental care of the Bulgarian Old Catholic Church, but functions independently in its pastoral, digital, and organisational life. Our contact details are listed below.
3. What personal data we collect
We may collect and process the following types of personal data:
- Name and contact details (e.g. email, phone number, postal address)
- Information voluntarily provided in contact forms, emails, or pastoral requests
- Subscription preferences (e.g. newsletters via Brevo)
- IP address and browser/device information (via cookies and analytics tools)
We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal data unless you freely provide it for pastoral or sacramental reasons.
4. Why we collect personal data
We collect personal data to:
- Respond to enquiries or prayer/sacrament requests
- Provide information about services, worship, or community life
- Manage email newsletters or form submissions
- Monitor and improve the website’s performance and accessibility
- Fulfil legal and pastoral responsibilities
5. Legal basis for processing
Depending on your location and interaction, we process personal data on one or more of the following legal bases:
- Your explicit consent (e.g. newsletter subscription or cookie preferences)
- Our legitimate interests (e.g. responding to pastoral requests or improving our site)
- Compliance with legal or administrative obligations
6. How we store and protect your data
We store personal data using secure platforms including WordPress, Brevo, and standard encrypted email services. Only authorised personnel have access to this data. We use standard technical and organisational measures to protect it from unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure.
We do not sell or share your personal information for advertising or commercial purposes.
7. How long we keep your data
We retain data only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes listed above, unless a longer retention period is legally required or pastorally appropriate (e.g. records of sacraments). You may request deletion of your data at any time (see section 9).
8. Sharing your data
We do not rent or sell your data. We may share it with:
- Trusted third-party service providers (e.g. Brevo, web hosting, email systems)
- Legal or regulatory authorities when required to do so by law
All third parties are contractually bound to treat your data securely and lawfully.
9. Your data rights
You have the following rights under the GDPR and other international privacy laws:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: Ask us to correct or complete inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Deletion: Request that we delete your data (“right to be forgotten”).
- Objection: Object to the processing of your data under certain conditions.
- Restriction: Request restriction of processing under specific circumstances.
- Portability: Request that your data be transferred to another organisation.
- Withdraw Consent: Revoke your consent at any time (e.g. unsubscribe).
- Lodge a Complaint: Contact your national data protection authority or contact us directly.
To exercise any of these rights, please use the contact details listed in section 10.
10. Contact details
For privacy-related questions or data access requests, please contact:
Apostolic Old Catholic Mission
c/o Bulgarian Old Catholic Church
11 Hristo Belchev Street, Entrance B, Floor 3
Sredets District, Sofia 1000
Bulgaria
Website: https://apostolicoldcatholic.org
Email: admin@apostolicoldcatholic.org
11. Children’s Data
Our website and online ministry are not specifically directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we discover that a child has provided us with personal data without parental consent, we will promptly delete it. Parents or guardians may contact us if they believe data has been submitted in error.
12. Automated Processing and Profiling
We use Brevo to manage contact forms, email newsletters, and segmented communication. Some data may be processed automatically (e.g. categorising users based on email interaction), but we do not make decisions that produce legal or significant effects without human oversight. We do not engage in automated profiling or behavioural advertising.
13. Use of Brevo Services
We use Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), a secure, GDPR-compliant service, to process our contact forms and newsletters. Data such as your name, email address, and engagement with email content may be processed to ensure relevant and respectful communication. You can read Brevo’s privacy policy here.
Related Information and Useful Links
- Read our full Cookie Policy to learn how we use cookies and analytics tools.
- Need help managing browser cookies? Visit this cookie management guide.
- Have a question or concern? Contact the Apostolic Old Catholic Mission — we’re here to serve.