Financial Administration Course Strengthens Church Leaders’ Stewardship Skills

BENGALURU, September 5, 2026: Strengthening financial transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship in religious and charitable institutions was the focus of an eight-day Financial Administration Course held at the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC), Bengaluru.

Organised by NBCLC in collaboration with St Joseph’s College of Commerce (SJCC), Bengaluru, through SJCC Academic Consultancy Services, the programme was held from August 17 to 24 and brought together priests, religious superiors, procurators, accountants, treasurers, finance officers and institutional administrators.

The course provided participants with practical training in financial management, accounting, auditing, taxation, banking, legal compliance and the administration of the Church’s temporal goods.

Sessions covered institutional governance, budgeting, accounting systems, Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) compliance, income tax, cash-flow management, auditing, risk management, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), Provident Fund (PF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), professional tax, labour codes, banking and investments.

Particular emphasis was placed on internal financial controls, audit preparedness, transparency and accountability in institutional financial administration.

The canonical aspects of financial management were addressed by Jesuit priests Fr Jason Furtado and Fr Harry Noel Terry, who explained the responsibilities of juridical persons, ordinary and extraordinary administration, alienation of temporal goods and the role of Church personnel in managing institutional resources.

A technical session on statutory and financial audits was conducted by Harish Kumar, who explained key audit assertions relating to existence, completeness, valuation, rights and obligations, and cut-off. Case studies and practical examples helped participants connect audit principles with their day-to-day responsibilities.

Participants also visited St Joseph’s College of Commerce, where Principal Fr Charles Lasrado, SJ, and faculty members presented the institution’s history, achievements and academic development. The visit included a campus tour and interaction with the college community.

Financial statement analysis for charitable institutions formed another major component of the programme. Participants examined cash-flow statements, financial sustainability, surplus cash management, dependence on donations and financial ratios, with emphasis on using financial information for planning, decision-making and long-term institutional sustainability.

Through expert-led sessions, practical exercises, case studies, discussions and institutional exposure, the course sought to enhance the financial competence of Church personnel entrusted with managing institutional resources.

The programme concluded with participants reaffirming the importance of financial responsibility, transparency, accountability and sound stewardship in the administration of religious and charitable institutions.

By Catholic Connect Reporter