The Members of the General Secretariat for Finance met in Rome at Casa San Alfonso in the General Curia from the 22nd to 24th April 2025 for the first meeting of the Secretariat for the year. The meeting was chaired by Fr Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R (General Consultor), and the following members participated in the meeting: Fr Vicente Soria Fleitas, C.Ss.R. (Economo General), Fr. Kingsley Ifeanyi Anoghala C.Ss.R. (Vice Economo General), Fr. Gerry O’Connor C.Ss.R., Bro. Jeffrey Rolle, C.Ss.R., Ignacio Vázquez Guedán, Fr. David Hore C.Ss.R. and Fr. Kevin Zubel C.Ss.R. Fr. Maiko Deffaveri, C.Ss.R, from the General Economo’s office also participated for part of the meeting.
The Members discussed the Statement of accounts of the General Government and all the Institutions of the General Government for the entire year 2024. Other items for discussion were the following: The Financial reports of the Units as well as the Contributions from the Units, The Solidarity Fund Report, A Presentation on Investments, The Report on the Casa San Alfonso Renovation in Rome, A Report on the Workshops on the Manual for Financial Administration in Africa and Madagascar, Europe and Asia Oceania, A Report from the Investment Managers from the USA along with a discussion on the Situation regarding the Investments and the possibility of further investments and other possible structures for managing the investments of the General Government, the Current uncertainty in World Finance and Markets and its impact on investments, The Fire Prevention Project of the Alphonsian Academy, A Report on the Live Streaming Project of the Church of San Alfonso in Rome, A Report on the Rental properties in Rome as well as the use of the newly renovated Pastoral Hall in Rome, Property and Insurance, Restructuring in the Congregation along with the progress being made with regard to the financial structures of the newly Restructured units, A Report on the Solidarity Fund for Africa and Madagascar, The Report from the Internal Auditor and his Recommendations, the Distribution of the Property Tax and a few other important items in the area of properties, finance, and investment were taken up for discussion.
The General Secretariat made a few recommendations to the General Government on some of the above items discussed. The next meeting will be held online on the 4th of November 2025 at 1 pm Rome time. The meeting was held with the awareness of the death of the Holy Father Pope Francis and with the members going over to pay their respects and to pray at his remains which lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
