The event, organised by the Economer General and led by his entire team, is attended by the Provincial Economers from 21 circumscriptions of all seven Salesian Regions: Southern Africa, East Africa plus the Sudan Delegation, Africa Nigeria Niger, Antilles, Bolivia, Brazil-Campo Grande, Brazil-Porto Alegre, Brazil-San Paolo, Chile, China, Great Britain, Southern Italy, India Mumbai, India Guwahati, Mexico-Guadalajara, Peru, Spain-Mary Help of Christians, United States East, Timor-Leste and Uruguay.
The topics covered are basically those that allow the one responsible for this area to be able to carry out their work at the service of the Salesian provincial mission in a correct, competent and professional way. "The specific purpose of this course, which has now become a fixed appointment in the calendar of the formation of Economers, is to help participants become familiar with all the different dimensions of our commitment: to be aware of the opportunities, as well as the risks, to know the tools available and the obligations to be respected, as well as to present all those procedures and criteria that must guide our work to make it really efficient and effective" Br. Jean Paul Muller, Economer General of the Salesian Congregation explained to ANS.
He also added: "Taking care of economic aspects is also vital for religious bodies; our mission is different from those of companies, but the economy is like fuel for cars: absolutely necessary to move forward in the direction taken and without which we end up standing still."
At the operational level, the work began in the afternoon of Monday, May 6 with a first session by Br. Muller on the role and tasks of the Salesian Economer and Administrator, followed by another on canonical and institutional regulations, financial crimes and procedures, animated by Fr Luis Botasso, Secretary of the Economer General, and the Procurator General of the Congregation, Fr Pier Fausto Frisoli.
On the morning of Tuesday 7th, experts Pietro Tardini and Alex Garattoni, Compagnia Privata Consultancy, spoke about criteria and professional decisions regarding the financial choices made by provinces. In the afternoon, Dr Andreas Machnik, from Pax Bank International, is scheduled to speak, illustrating some ethical criteria for financial action, and later the participants of the course will visit the Don Bosco Rooms at Sacred Heart in Rome.
On Wednesday 8th, the theme of personnel management will be addressed in the morning, with the report by Dr Janko Jochimsen, collaborator in the Economer General's office; and the practice of accounting, with interventions by Br. Alberto Rodríguez, SDB, President of the "DON BOSCO NEL MONDO" Foundation, and Dr Fabio Buconi, from the Economer General's office; and in the afternoon, the role and collaboration with the Planning and Development Offices, thanks to presentations by Fr Jose Joseph, from the Economer General's office, and Fr Eric Mairura, from the Missions Sector.
On the penultimate day of work, after the introduction by Daniel Ormeno on Salesian agricultural schools, Emanuela Ornato will again speak, with a formation session on the use of the digital portal, and leaders from the "DON BOSCO NEL MONDO" Foundation, Dr Mariangela Gargano and Dr Marcella Orsini, who will talk about Salesian global solidarity. The visit to the catacombs of San Callisto will close the day.
Finally, on Friday, May 10th there will still be time for the final reflections with the Rector Major Emeritus, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, the evaluation of the appointment and the concluding Mass celebrated by Fr Chávez Villanueva.
