The Treasurers from across our Jesuit conference held their annual meeting from 11 to 14 September in Sydney, at Peter Canisius House in Pymble, which was formerly the old novitiate of the Australian Province. Twenty-four participants attended, with two members, Fr Petrus Puspobinatmo of Myanmar and Fr Rafael Mathando Hinganaday from Indonesia, joining the meeting online. This was the second onsite meeting since the relaxation of travel protocols due to the Covid pandemic. Last year’s meeting was hosted by the Philippine Province at the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) within the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City.
Australian Provincial Fr Dominic Vu Kim Quyen flew from Melbourne to welcome and meet the participants hailing from all over the Asia Pacific Conference. The first activity of the day was a group examen, centred around Father General’s document, De Statu Societatis Iesu 2023. In small groups, the Treasurers reflected and shared thoughts on the guide questions proposed by conference President Fr Tony Moreno:
- What were the blessings and challenges of your unit/JCAP at large over the last six years?
- Where is the Spirit leading the networks/sectors and JCAP in the next six years?
A third reflection question was added, tailored for the group of financial administrators:
- Where is the Spirit leading me as steward of my Region’s/Province’s temporal goods, on which the spiritual good and well-being of the Society greatly depend?
The general theme of the meeting was “Going Back to Basics”, during which the Treasurers openly discussed their experiences and challenges in fulfilling their principal mandate as administrators of the temporal goods of the Society. Three main topics were discussed:
- The Budgetary Process: Coming Up with the Province’s Annual Budget
- Filling the Baskets: How Arcaes are Funded
- Revisiting the Revisor’s Checklist
The meeting was enriched by additional input from guest presenters. Berna Filart, Project Director of the Philippine Jesuit Aid Association, presented online on the work of the Development Office of the Philippine Province. Incidentally, some Treasurers also hold the responsibility of Development Officer in their respective units. One significant learning was the recognition of “friend-raising” and the care of benefactors by engaging them not just as financial providers but as partners in the Jesuit mission.
Jonathan Grigg, a fund manager for the Australian Province, offered useful insights on investments, an integral aspect of the preservation and growth of funds entrusted to the Society for its various apostolic works. Fr Moreno, joining online from Rome, provided updates on the status of the Solidarity in Formation Fund, the Pakistan Mission, and other conference-related matters. Lively and animated discussions followed with generous sharing of resource materials, especially from the host province, which has established solid policies and guidelines for the preparation of its annual budget.
Sectoral meetings, including the annual meeting of Treasurers, are never complete without a sponsored tour by the host unit. Fr Rob Davoren, Treasurer, along with his active Director of Finance, John Daly, and a dynamic all-women support team, saw to the minute details of a relaxing boat excursion to Sydney Harbour, followed by lunch at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the iconic Sydney Opera House with the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge in the foreground.
Everybody is looking forward to next year’s meeting in Tokyo in October. Fr Mike Akamatsu, Japan Treasurer, purposely brought along his two female colleagues to get hosting tips from Down Under. It was spring in Australia; next year’s meeting will be in autumn in the Land of the Rising Sun. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Fr Vidal Gornez Jr SJ is the treasurer and development officer of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.