EAO Provincial Economers Meeting 2018 in Seoul

By Mr. Leah Samson

Seoul, Korea, 4 March 2018 -- The Annual EAO Provincial Economers Meeting has just been concluded in Seoul, Korea. It was headed by the Economer General, Br. Jean Paul Muller, and was managed by the FIS Economer and EAO Regional Coordinator, Fr. Andy Satura. In attendance were 14 Provincial Economers, the KOR Mission Office, and 8 lay staff of some of the EAO Provinces. The entire meeting ran from March 1-4, 2018.

The topics were varied yet grounded on how each Provincial Economer can better perform in their respective Provinces. The discussions began with the presentation of good practices currently on-going in particular Provinces: KOR Mission Office, FIS PDO, and FIN Administration. It then proceeded with the crux of the meeting – the expansive input of the Economer General on “how a better future can be built for the children and young people” having the idea of the common good and the role the Provincial Economer to realize this.

Br. Muller presented the idea of a rapidly evolving future and the need for the Salesians to keep up, even take the lead and create in the EAO Region a shared Future. This then points to the serious consideration – and urgent action – of the following in our Salesian communities and institutions:

• Salesian quality


• Salesian management


• Work and temperance


• More Valdocco in this changing world


• Providing for future needs of our mission e.g. through investments, finding local solutions, social entrepreneurship, effective partnerships, relationship building


• Youth participation and engagement


• Change management


• Sustainability and subsidiarity


• Administrative and management evaluation


• Social audit

Br. Muller pointed out that relevant documents of the Congregation particularly the Constitutions (Arts. 73-75, 161, 164, 176, 187-188), Statutes, General Chapter directives (from GC 25 to GC 27), Red Booklet on Administration (Chap. 11), and applicable manuals from the Generalate and the Region have to guide the Salesian path into the future.

Following Br. Muller’s 3-day input and direction, the EAO Provincial Economers’ agreed on concrete lines of action at Region, Province, and personal levels to be carried out this year and onward.

The meeting closed with the announcement of the next meeting date and venue: March 3-6, 2019 in Papau New Guinea.

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