RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FINANCES AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY: FROM THE FORMATION OF CANDIDATES TO THE LIVING WITNESS OF PROFESSED MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE.

Abstract

This article aims at portraying the fact that the finance and economic growth of any religious institute is the responsibility of all the members of the institute including the candidates in the institute’s formation house. The formation house is the ideal place to inculcate the idea in the candidates and future members of the institute. Institute here refers to any Consecrated Religious Institute in the Catholic Church such as Religious Congregations, Religious Orders, and Societies of Apostolic Life. Members of the institute imply those who have made their Profession of Vows, Make the Commitment or Taken the Oath of membership. The Candidates are those still at their initial formation – that is those who are yet to Profess the Vows, Make the Commitment, or Take the Oath. The Finance and economy of a consecrated religious institute are officially and primarily entrusted to the Superior and the Bursar of the institute. However, the Superior and bursar alone may not be able to bring about any meaningful financial and economic growth if the other members of the institute do not contribute their quota towards encouraging the growth. The financial and economic demand of a religious institute increases as the members of such institute increase in number. This makes it difficult if not impossible for just the Superior, the councillors and the bursar alone to meet up with the demands of the institute without the support of other members.