Our Story

Organization History

Oracle Religious Association (ORA) was founded in October 1992 by Sr. Dr. Oralisa Martin. In 1996, we purchased our headquarters at 6101 New Hampshire Avenue NE, Washington, DC. It occupies 4 offices with a cadre of professional volunteers, professors, and consultants. The following year, we received our 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) statuses as a nonprofit, public, tax-exempt, and charitable organizations. We legally function through a five-member governing board of directors. ORA has ministered in more than thirty (arch) dioceses including Belize, Central America, and the Bahamas.

Our Activities

Sr. Oralisa envisioned that ORA’s primary purpose is ministry within Christ’s Church and the larger community. Our initial activities were creating and implementing the ORACLE National Summer Institute for Youth and publishing ORACLE: A Text for African American Youth. Next came The ORACLE Professional Development Institute programs, which were tailored to the needs of the Catholic audience. Our keynote addresses, workshops, and seminars were also presented at national Catholic conferences.
As demand for our services grew, ORACLE Religious Association became a local and international organization conducting numerous revivals and retreats. Our most active ministry, WWW: Well Women Witness, has grown significantly over a brief period. It’s being restructured so it can be held in larger venues. Along with women's ministry is the new ORACLE Conference: The Path of the Suffering Savior - Jesus Christ, a 2-3 day event on the teaching and praying of the Stations of the Cross.

About Sr. Dr. Oralisa Martin, D. Min.

Sr. Dr. Oralisa Martin, D. Min., a native of New Orleans, LA, and 3rd generation Haitian, is one of the leading African American Catholic keynote speakers for (arch)diocesan programs, parish anniversaries, conferences, and church events in the United States. Sr. Martin served as a consultant for Black Catholics in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles under the auspices of Archbishop Roger Mahony, former local Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CA. As a consultant, she founded in 1986 The African American Catholic Catechetical Conference and the African American Catechetical Institute.
As a consultant for African American Catholics, Sr. Oralisa Martin became nationally known and participated in (arch) diocesan conferences as keynote speaker, workshop presenter, trainer in youth ministry, and evangelist for parish Missions. Her spiritual faith was growing so quickly that the Catholic Church immediately recognized her gifts. The design of the ORACLE youth program was sent by USCCB directly to the Holy See Synod Office in Rome in the preparation for the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Sr. Dr. Oralisa Martin currently serves as president of ORACLE Religious Association (ORA), based in Washington, DC, which she founded in 1992.
Teacher and Charismatic Catholic
For more than 20 years, Sr. Oralisa taught young students in various Catholic high schools. She also went on a national and global tour, preaching and healing through Catholic revivals.
Prophet and Leader
Sr. Oralisa Martin, after hearing a “prophetic call within her vocation,” founded ORA. In 1995, she transitioned from public vows to private vows. Bishop Thomas Gumbleton received her vows in the name of the College of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. Anointed in the power of the Holy Spirit Sr. Oralisa possesses a special charisma in ministering to the Gen Z and Millennials.
Healer and Community Advocate
She has traveled to more than 23 states, speaking on behalf of the voiceless, wounded, and dispossessed of the land. Her proclamations are spirit-filled and Bible-driven. Sr. Oralisa also responds to diocesan and parish invitations. Using her charismatic gift of healing, she preaches at revivals, lays hands on the sick, and raises the hopeless to a life in Christ.
Evangelical
Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore and make disciples.” This involves bringing the Good News to unbelievers, which is the initial form of evangelization. Sr. Oralisa has the charisma to teach believers the mysteries of faith in a way that makes sense in their lives. She breaks down God’s Word with clarity and then advances the believers’ understanding to the point of personal conviction, conversion, and ultimate discipleship.