Redemptorist leadership and bursars from units in Africa and Madagascar met for an informative and engaging week in Nairobi, Kenya from September 23rd to 27th. The training initiative inspired by the Redemptorist General Government Finance Secretariat is one of a series of training events being delivered across the Redemptorist world to upskill and train Redemptorist Unit leadership and bursars to proactively implement the Redemptorist Congregation’s new financial procedures manual. Unit leaders joined the training programme for two days while the bursars remained for five days.
The training programme was delivered by Fr. Gerard O’Connor C.Ss.R. from the Dublin Province who is a member of the General Government Finance Secretariat and Procurator for Africa and Madagascar. The training programme was delivered in English, French and Portuguese and included modules on financial restructuring, financial (policies, procedures and best practices). The programme designed for an African and Madagascar context also included input on social entrepreneurship, sustainability, grant-writing, and fundraising. Gerry O’Connor was joined by Br. Leon Masiala from the Redemptorist Vice Province of Matadi and Malcolm Saida a lay associate from South Africa in a team approach to disseminating the key messages and demands of the Congregation’s new financial procedures manual. The Coordinator of the Redemptorist Africa Conference participated with the Unit leadership for the first two days and warmly welcomed delegates. The training team are very grateful to Fr. Noel Sottima for the intense logistical preparatory work he invested in ensuring the meeting ran smoothly.
The training team invited an inspirational speaker- Sr. Georgette a native of Burkina Faso and superior of the Donum Dei sisters in Nairobi to share best practices and achievements in helping religious congregations towards sustainability. Delegates attended from Nigeria, Angola, the Vice Province of West Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya and Zimbabwe. There was a very positive spirit at the meeting and while ‘finance’ is a ‘heavy theme’ there were many light-hearted moments of laughter. Liturgy and prayer were interwoven with the week’s activities and shared in different languages including French, Portuguese, English and Latin. Spiritual moments shaped the teaching approach- integrating themes such as stewardship, hopefulness and sustainable living.
In summary, the week in Nairobi represented another significant milestone in the life of the Redemptorist Africa Conference (COREAM)- and there is a renewed determination to achieve high levels of transparency and accountability while creating a sustainable future for the Redemptorists in Africa and Madagascar.
Fr. Gerard O’Connor, C.Ss.R.
