Funkcja ekonoma w prawie własnym Towarzystwa św. Franciszka Salezego

Abstract

The economer’s function is to administer ecclesiastical goods that belong to religious legal entities. The position of economer is provided for by the Canon Law. Details regarding the requirements for the economer’s position and his duties are included in a religious institute’s own law. The review of the Society of St. Francis de Sales’ own law, presented in this article shows its compliance with the common law of the Church. The economer general is elected at the general council, other administrators are appointed after previous consultation. The economer’s position is a term office. The Society’s own law defines in detail the economer’s assignments at the level of the Society of St. Francis de Sales’ central office, province and particular houses. The constitutional regulations of that institute strongly emphasize the spiritual significance of administration. Temporal goods help to attain the Salesian spirit, they are subordinated to the education of the young and evangelization. St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesians, put his trust in God’s Providence and the assistance of Mary Help of Christians but at the same time he was a prudent and far-sighted administrator who had his feet firmly on the ground. The ministry of economers is difficult. Working, as they do, in the modern maze of national legal and administrative norms, they must constantly deepen their knowledge. For this reason some additional initiatives are necessary, such as organizing theoretical and practical training, publishing subsidiary literature, etc. At the same time it is allegiance to legal norms (canon, common and own law) that will let Salesians accomplish their ecclesiastical mission.