4326(I)_EAO Provincial Economers Meeting

EAO Team Visit 2017 (11) - Day 5

March 15, 2017

By Fr. Adriano Satura, SDB
EAO coordinator for Economy

Hua Hin, Thailand, 11 March 2017 -- The EAO Team Visit in Thailand was extended for another day for the Provincial Economers to be able to meet by themselves alone in order to discuss matters pertaining to their sector, the economy. In Hua Hin Salesian Retreat House hall were present for 4 sessions all 11 EAO Provincial Economers, Delegation Economers of Cambodia, Mongolia and Indonesia, some PDO Directors and one future Provincial Economer.

Fr. Andy Satura, FIS economer and EAO regional coordinator, began the session with a short prayer followed by the introduction of each of 20 participants. Then Fr. Piotr Gozdalski, the assistant to Br. Jean Paul Muller, made the introduction of the activity of the day. He then introduced the resource speaker, Dr. Janko Joachimssen, a financial expert from Netherlands who is now working within the General Economer Sector with Br. Jean Paul Muller.

The first topic discussed by Dr. Hochimsen is about on the Economic Situation of the Congregation where the consolidated data of each province are also reflected. The participants requested that this copy be made available to the provinces. The second topic presented by Dr. Joachimssen is the Economers Handbook where the importance of managing the human resources is highlighted.

Fr. Piotr Gozdalski presented in the afternoon session the topic on the Best Practice in Financial Management. The common interention of the economers is that most of us salesians are not capable professionally on our job. It was agreed that we hire lay experts on this field. Fr. Piotr touched also a little on the topic of the PDO reminding the body about the true nature of the PDO - to assist the “planning and development” of the Salesian Mission of each Province or Delegation.

The last session was facilitated by Fr. Andy where an evaluation of the resolutions taken last year in Myanmar was the main issue. The best practice being followed is that of involving our Lay Mission Partners in our works. The least item in the resolution where the group is weak is that of the PDO in each province where a few are still not getting into the teeth of its operation. The day ended with the announcement of the next meeting of EAO Economers in Seoul, Korea in March 1 – 4, 2018.

Related article: EAO Economers meeting 2016 (Myanmar, March)