Letter of Economer General

April 2020

 

Economer letter 2020-April 6 CoVid-Prov economy.pdf

ANS news April 13

In these days from Rome, I have been very busy coordinating and helping our Provinces to find funds and means, but also creative ideas, to answer to the challenges of COVID-19," begins Br. Muller, who, in addition to regretting the many victims in many parts of the world, however, says he is "favorably impressed by the considerable energy of our centers (Young, Lay, SDB) who have come up with creative and effective solutions to help people in need." In this sense, the Economer General also recalls the start of the synergy with the Missions Sector and together with the Don Bosco-Network (DBN) for the coordination of this emergency situation and its specific email address -  solidarity.covid19@sdb.org - to give or ask for support.

Subsequently, in presenting the general calendar of the six-year term, he introduced a significant novelty: the International Conferences of formation and accompaniment for the Provincial Economers, entitled "Economics at the service of the Salesian Charism", which will also be attended by those responsible for the Planning and Development Offices (PDO) and the Salesian Mission Offices. There will be two such conferences, already scheduled for the months of September 2022 and 2025.

The current international economic situation cannot, of course, leave Br. Muller indifferent. "We all know that Covid-19 has a negative influence on the market," he says, before offering several tips for the administration and good economic and financial governance of the Provinces. For sure, the situation also affects a predictable drop in donations from benefactors. To this challenge, which has a global reach, but which risks putting the projects in developing countries in especially greater difficulty, the Economer General invites us to react by having "the courage to take the necessary measures" and maintaining confidence in Providence.

Despite the current difficulties, Br. Muller is sure: "Solidarity in the Congregation is destined to change in the future and in a few years we will be able to experience that the proximity of the Provinces to each other, and within the regions, will bear its fruit."

The letter ends with some short notes on the structure of the Bursar and the Easter greetings, in the hope of the Resurrection and in the memory of the deceased - many among the Salesians too - victims of Covid-19.