The Members of the General Secretariat for Finance met in Rome at Casa San Alfonso in the General Curia from the 2nd to 4th June 2026 for the first meeting of the Secretariat for the year 2026. 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. At this meeting Fr. Rogério Gomes, C.Ss.R. (Superior General) and Fr Nicholas Ayouba (Consultor General from Africa and Madagascar participated.
Decisions 18 and 19 of the XXVI General Chapter concerning Africa and Madagascar was the main item on the agenda of this meeting. The Presence of Fr General and Fr Ayouba highlighted the importance of the Conference of Africa and Madagascar and its future in the congregation as the members discussed ways in which the Congregation could support the young and quickly growing Conference (COREAM). Fr General addressed the Secretariat at the start of the meeting and stressed the importance of this meeting in view of the General Council’s forthcoming meeting so as to enable the General Council to make the necessary decisions responding to the XXVI General Chapter’s mandate to the General Council regarding Africa and Madagascar as a priority of the Congregation.
The Secretariat after a couple of days of discussion on the various aspects of decisions 18 and 19 of the XXVI General Chapter using the suggestions from the Mid Sexennial meetings in the Conferences made 8 recommendations to the General Council regarding a letter from Fr General to the entire Congregation regarding decisions 18 and 19, the Fund for Africa and Madagascar, Fund raising, Patrimony from the Founding Units, and contributions from all the units of the Congregation in support of the formation in Africa and Madagascar.
An important aspect of the meeting was the presence of two representatives from IOR (Instituto per Opere Religiose) of the Vatican. They gave a presentation on the working of IOR and its Gospel oriented functioning. They also offered a test case investment policy should the General Government decide to invest the contributions for Africa and Madagascar with the IOR and how this could function including the possible returns on this investment.
Other items for discussion were the following: 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.
The General Secretariat made a few recommendations to the General Government on some of the above items discussed as well. The next meeting will be held in November 2026 in the USA.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
