The Members of the General Secretariat for Finance met at Dundalk in Ireland from the 19th to 21st November for the biannual meeting, The meeting was chaired by Fr Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R (General Consultor), and the following members participated in the meeting: Fr Vicente Soria Fleitas, C.Ss.R. (Economo General), Fr. Kingsley Ifeanyi Anoghala C.Ss.R. (Assistant to the Economo), Fr. Gerry O’Connor C.Ss.R., Bro. Jeffrey Rolle, C.Ss.R., Ignacio Vázquez Guedán, Fr. David Hore C.Ss.R. and Fr. Kevin Zubel C.Ss.R.
The Members discussed the Statement of accounts of the General Government and all the Institutions of the General Government for the year 2024 until September 2024 as well as the Budget for the coming year 2025. Other items for discussion were the following: The Financial reports of the Units as well as the Contributions from the Units, The Solidarity Fund Report, A Presentation on cyber security, A Presentation on Investments, Report on the Casa San Alfonso Renovation in Rome, Report on the office of the Economo General and the staff who work in the office, Report on the Workshops on the Manual for Financial Administration and plans for the Conferences, Report from the Investment Managers from the USA along with a discussion on the Situation regarding the Investments and the possibility of further investments, the Fire Prevention Project of the Alphonsian Academy, the Live Streaming Project of the Church of San Alfonso in Rome, Property and Insurance, Internal Controls in the Office of the Economo General, Fundraising, Restructuring in the Congregation along with the Document on Finance for Restructuring, Networking for Africa and Madagascar, and a Fraud/Whistle Blowing Policy for the General Government.
The General Secretariat made a few recommendations to the General Government on the above items discussed. The next meeting will be held in Rome from the 22nd to the 24th April. Fr Ivel expressed his gratitude on behalf of the General Secretariat of Finance to the Provincial of Dublin Fr Brendan O’Rourke and to the Rector of the Redemptorist Community at Dundalk for their warmth, hospitality, generosity, and arrangements for the meeting.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
