Displaying items by tag: General Economic Commission
Meeting of the Order's Treasurers Held in Fatima
From November 11 to 16, 2024, 50 bursars from the provinces, commissariats and delegations gathered in Fatima, Portugal, in the Hotel Casa San Nuno for the meeting of the bursars of our Order, including lay people who collaborate in this ministry in their respective provinces. All entities present shared a brief report of the realities in which they live, problems, main challenges and possible solutions.
Prior General, Míċeál O'Neill, O. Carm, opened the meeting with a talk concerning some economic issues of our Order and a reflection on poverty and the role of community starting from our Rule No. 12. He also presided over the opening Eucharistic celebration.
Secretary for Missionary Cooperation of the Curia of Discalced Carmelites Jerome Paluku, OCD, then continued the meeting with a reflection on, “Solidarity as Mutual Responsibility - Conditions for Effective Solidarity in the Carmelite Order.”
Regarding the conditions for effective solidarity in the Order, the need for a future solidarity fund, how to finance and manage it was discussed. Also invited was Dr. Giovanni M. Manozzi, financial advisor to the Curia, who presented a comprehensive overview of Carmel's finances in the world; he also spoke and consequently discussed with the participants the method of compiling the economic reports sent annually.
The meeting was held in a spirit of transparency and honesty, spending time also for sharing in language groups and an afternoon for an excursion to the Batalha National Monument and the Atlantic Coast of Nazaré. The concluding Eucharistic celebration was held in the Chapel of the Fatima Apparitions.
Special thanks go to Ricardo Rainho, O. Carm. and Agostinho Castro, O. Carm. as well as to all the members of the General Commissariat of Portugal for their cordial and fraternal hospitality during the meeting.
Meeting of the General Economic Commission
From April 8-12, 2024, the General Economic Commission met in Rome, whose members are: Javier Domingo Garmón i Calvo (Cat), Günter Benker (Ger), Shiju Njaralampuzha (Ind), Nixon Jacobus Silfanus (Indo-laica), and Christian Körner, General Economist. Anna De Giglio (Neap-laica) was unable to attend. Also present were Elisabetta Berardi (Curia) and as translator Tobias Kraus (Curia).
The meeting began with the review of the Curia's Economic Report 2023 and continued with the discussion of the following items: the submission of economic reports and payment of the contribution by some provinces, the revision of the Economic Directory, the criteria of investments, and the reconsideration of the percentages to be presented at the bursars' meeting and discussed together. The Commission also continued to prepare for the 'meeting of all bursars of the Order to be held, from November 11 (arrivals) to November 16 (departures) 2024 at the Casa São Nuno Hotel in Fatima.
The next meeting will be held during the bursars' meeting in Fatima.
Meeting of the General Economic Commission
Finance Commission
Global Plan of the General Council 2019-2025
God has called us to be good administrators of the gifts we have received. We have the task of taking good care of what has been entrusted to us. We strive to be better in our responsibility, transparency and solidarity in the administration of the material goods entrusted to us. Thus, we continue to implement the ideal established by our Constitutions: “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. 60). “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 and sharing with communities throughout the Order, in particular the poorer among them”(Con. 38).
Plans
- Meet annually with the General Commission for the Economy for reviewing the economy of the Order.
- Look for other sources of funding the General Curia.
- Repay the interest and the loan received from the Provinces for the ex Domus Carmelitana.
- Create a central fund for our missions and draw up statutes for it according to the decisions of the General Chapter.
- Collaborate with the General Commission for the Coordination of the New Foundations of the Order.
- Review the contribution percentages of the Provinces, promoting the participation of all.
- Organize in 2021 and 2024 international meetings of the bursars of the Provinces, General Delegations and Commissariats.
- Continue updating the Economic Directory by implementing the new directives of the Holy See (e.g. stable patrimony).
Members
- Christian Körner, O. Carm.
- Günter Benker, O. Carm. (Germany)
- Anna di Giglio (Neapolitan, Italy)
- Shiju George Njaralampuzha, O. Carm. (India)
- Javier Domingo Garmón i Calvo, O. Carm. (Catalunia, Spain)
- Nixon Jacobus Silfanus (Jakarta, Indonesia)
