Finance (12)
Fr. Carl Markelz, O.Carm.
The Triennial Bursars’ Meeting of the Order was held in Fatima, Portugal from 4-7 November 2015. Fifty bursars, Carmelite friars and lay people, gathered for this conference to be renewed in this ministry, review the policies of the Order, and discuss the challenges for today. The meeting also included times for reflection and prayer, comprising a moving liturgy at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Participants stayed at Casa São Nuno, which is owned and operated by the Carmelites of the General Commissariat of Portugal.
The gathering began with a short address from our Prior General, Fernando Millan Romeral, O.Carm., who thanked all the bursars for this important ministry and encouraged them to continue being generous, transparent, and honest while also being prudent about financial decisions made in their provinces, commissariats, and delegations.
Next was our Keynote Speaker, Craig Morrison, O.Carm., faculty member at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, and professor of Aramaic Language and Literature. Craig first provided a prayer experience of Lectio Divina, and then used the text of Acts 5, the story of Ananias and Sapphira. He also examined some of the parables in the Gospel of Luke, and the many economic questions that arise in these texts. Later he shared some of the comments and homilies of Pope Francis regarding these parables. It was an important reflection that inspired many of the participants to share in language groups about their own personal experiences.
On the second day, after celebrating the liturgy at the Altar of the Apparitions at the Shrine of Fatima, the group heard from Bernadette Porter, RSCJ, general bursar of her congregation. She spoke on The Community of Goods and how centralized her congregation sees the finances and how they share their goods with developing areas of their community. It was a different model and structure than what is used in the Carmelites, but nonetheless it offered all participants a different way of seeing how all our goods are meant to be shared with one another.
On the third day, participants examined the document, Guidelines for the Administration of the assets in Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This session was led by Albert Anuszewski, OSST, general bursar of his Order, who led people to a better understanding of this important document published in 2014. Other sessions, called Carmel 2015 Global Perspective, involved looking at all of the finances for our provinces, commissariats, and delegations, and they were led by the financial consultant and advisor to the Curia, Mr. Jurek Borucki.
One highlight of the entire conference was a panel discussion of laywomen bursars. Anne Steffens (SEL), Roxana Pilar Baldivieso Mogro (Malta-Bolivia), Anna De Giglio (Neapoletana) and Jolanta Kenny (Britain) shared their experiences of working with the Carmelites, and they also spoke about challenges they saw for the future. Regional bursars from four areas of the world, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Americas, and Asia-Oceania-Australia, met to discuss issues that were important to their zones and set up future meetings to better networking and communicating with one another.
Overall the meeting was a great success! Many commented on the organization of the gathering while enjoying the breaks and meals as people were able to get to know one another and share in Carmelite hospitality! Many thanks to Casa São Nuno, and the General Commissariat of Portugal for hosting us and providing a great atmosphere for this important meeting.
Carl Markelz
God has called us to be good stewards of the gifts we have received. We are called to live in simplicity and solidarity with our brothers and sisters. "In our use of material goods, it is our responsibility before God to observe faithfully the poverty which we have freely professed, keeping in mind that we make the vow of poverty in order to live a simple life, individually and within our communities, avoiding whatever might offend the sensibilities of the poor" (Con. 57). "To ensure that the economic structure of our religious life does not resemble existing global systems of unjust inequality, fraternity within the Carmelite family should find expression in concern for the sharing with communities throughout the Order, in particular the poorer among them" (Con. 37).
Members
- Carl Markelz (praeses)
- Albert Anuszewski, OSST
- Günter Benker (Ger)
- Christian Buenafe (Phil)
- Fintan Burke (Hib)
- Anna De Giglio
- Alfredo Di Cerbo (Brun)
- Michael Kissane (SEL)
For the sake of convenience and economy, the Domus Carmelitana Advisory Commission always meets at the same time as the General Finance Commission: four members of the latter also advise on the Domus. Other members of the Domus Commission are John Lanahan (hotel finance consultant) and Janet Keeffe (tour operator). The Commission met on 2 March in the Domus to examine recent progress in the building works and to review the 2011 results. The area for customers outside the Domus is now almost completely finished and the next step will be to install an elevator from ground level down to reception. The Domus performed as well in 2011 as it had in 2010, which considering the weak demand in the tourist market is a commendable result. The first interest payment for 2012 will be made on 31 March and it is hoped to make a further capital repayment at the end of the year.
The General Finance Commission of the Order met in the Curia on 29 February and 1 March. Present were Kevin Alban (Bursar General), Fintan Burke (Hib.), Michael Kissane (SEL), James Des Lauriers (Aust.), Antonio Monteiro (Lus.), Manuel Bonilla (Cat.), Mîceál O’Neill (CISA), Mark McBride (Bursar General TOR), Sireneo Jaranilla (Phil.), Jurek Borucki (financial consultant), Jeffrey Cull (fund raising consultant). Besides reviewing the results of the Curia and its entities for 2011, the main item of business was the planning of the Triennial Bursars’ Meeting. This will be held in Sassone, Italy from 15 to 20 October 2012 and is intended to gather all provincial, delegation and commissariart bursars (general and provincial), as well as bursars from mission areas which are not yet formed into entities. A letter will be sent shortly giving full details of the meeting.
The Commission charged with the oversight of the Domus Carmelitana met in Rome on 4 November. Members of the Order present were Kevin Alban (Bursar General), James Des Lauriers (Aus), Giovanni Grosso (Curia) and Míceál O’Neill (CISA).
Reports were received from the architect and engineer who are directing the works in the Domus and the commission also conducted a detailed site inspection. The operating results for the year so far were discussed and the commission noted that the overall occupation rate had increased to 57%, compared with 54% last year, and that there were some months in 2012 already fully booked.
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The General Finance Commission of the Order met in the Curia on 7 and 8 November. Present were Kevin Alban (Bursar General), Michael Kissane (SEL), Antonio Monteiro (Lus.), Manuel Bonilla (Cat.), James Des Lauriers (Aus), Jeff Cull (Lay consultant), Míceál O’Neill (CISA), Mark McBride (TOR).
The main order of business was the examination of the budgets for the Curia community, the General Council, CISA and other bodies under the General for 2012. In addition, the Commission began planning for the next meeting of all the bursars from provinces, general commissariats, provincial commissariats, delegations and missions. Other topics discussed included fund raising around the world, the sale of property and the financial elements of a canonical visitation.
Meeting of Bursars of the North European Region, 7 – 9 May, 2011 Kraków, Poland
Written byThe annual meeting of the Northern European Bursars was held under the chairmanship of Richard Copsey O. Carm. (Brit) The first part of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation of each province from the point of view of manpower and finances. The second part of the meeting was given over to a presentation of Curia finances and the 2010 results. Finally, the meeting examined a proposed job description for the office of provincial bursar. While it was recognized that no single description would suit every province, the document did provide much food for thought and maybe a way forward could be to use this description as a sort of check list to make sure that the essential functions were covered, and that the proper procedures and controls were in place.
It was agreed that the group would not meet in spring 2012, but that, since there would be space provided at the Triennial Worldwide Bursars’ Meeting in the autumn of 2012, to defer their next meeting until then.
On 15 and 16 November the Order’s General Commission on Finance met in the Curia house in Rome under the chairmanship of Kevin Alban, the Bursar General. Also present were James Des Lauriers (Aus.), Manuel Bonilla (Cat.), Gian Domenico Meloni (Ita.), Michael Kissane (SEL-NY), Fintan Burke (Hib.), Wilmar Santin (GerS-Para.) Antonio Monteiro (Lus.), Bro. Mark McBride (TOR), Mr. Jeffrey Cull (US marketing), and Mr. Pierluigi Simoncelli (banking). An investment consultancy firm from the US, BMT, made a presentation to the commission of the services that they offer. The main business, however, was the examination of the budget for the Curia and the bodies that depend on it for 2011. This will be finalised by the General Council in its December plenary session.
First Meeting of Bursars of the Asian Region, 11-15 October 2010
Written byFrom October 11 to 15 a meeting of bursars was held in St Joseph’s Retreat Centre in the hills outside Bali in Indonesia. The bursars from Indonesia and its commissariats and mission in China, from the Philippines and its mission in Papua New Guinea, from Australia and its mission in Timor Leste, from the St. Thomas province and Latin Delegation in India and from the mission of the St. Elias province, New York in Vietnam were joined by the General Councillor for Asia, Australia and Oceania, Fr Albertus Herwanta and the Bursar General, Fr Kevin Alban. Over the course of the four days information was exchanged regarding the financial situation in the various entities that make up the region. Several practical recommendations were made about communications, formation and fund raising which will be presented to the superiors of the region. The group agreed that the experience had been very positive and that there would be another meeting in October 2011 in the Philippines.
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On the 26th of June a group of bursars of the Iberian Region met with the Bursar General at the Carmelite house of Ayala in Madrid. Present were: Frs.Vicente Arranda Guillén (Arag), José Ramón Medina Madueño (Bet), Marín Antonio Lozano Moreno (Cast), Joan Gúell y Casademont (Cat) and Ricardo dos Reis Rainho (Lus). There were two main topics on the agenda: the economic situation of each of the provinces and the compiling the annual economic report for the Curia. Another meeting with the bursars of the Asia-Australia-Oceania area is planned for October 2010.
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A meeting of the General Finance Commission of the Order was held in Rome from 3 to 5 March under the chairmanship of Kevin Alban (Brit.), the Bursar-General. The first day was devoted to a meeting with the Domus Board of Management to exchange ideas about the performance of the Domus in the short term economic crisis and to share views on the long term place of the Domus in the overall scheme of the Order’s finances. On 4 March the Commission reviewed the accounts for the Curia and its works for 2008, which showed a modest surplus in line with the approved budget. The Commission also revisited the budget for 2009 and urged the Bursar General to ensure that it was adhered to as faithfully as possible. Finally, the Commission considered the Triennial Bursars’ Meeting due to be held in October 2009 and whether in the present climate it should be postponed. The Commission decided to go ahead with the meeting, but with a reduced number of participants, in order to alleviate the financial burden on provinces sending delegates.
