Chennai (India). On 12 July 2025, at the Fatima Convent in Kodambakkam, Chennai, a workshop was held for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians responsible for writing the chronicle in the different communities of Saint Thomas Apostle Province (INM), organized by the Provincial Secretary, Sister Josephine Rani Susai.
Twenty-five FMA participated in attendance, while ten others joined from Sri Lanka at the online session. The aim of the workshop was to improve the ability to write the chronicle, helping them to go deeper into their understanding of their ‘sacred role’ as guardians of the memory of the life and mission of the Community.
The day began with group photographs with the Provincial, Sister Margaret Devadoss, and Sister Josephine Rani Susai. It was followed by a prayer of invocation for the blessings of God and the Holy Spirit, animated by Sister Susainathan Ayesha Bindhu. Sister Josephine Rani then extended a warm welcome to all the participants, wishing them a fruitful day of learning and enrichment.
The workshop officially began with the opening discourse of the Provincial, who stressed the importance of recording in a faithful and truthful way significant daily events, capturing the vitality of the life and mission of the community. She also reminded them to perform their role with joy and love, recognizing that they are instruments for preserving the living memory of the Salesian Charism.
Sister Josephine Rani then offered a complete guide on the writing of the chronicle, including practical indications, starting from a reflection on the origins of the Institute. She highlighted how the first Sisters of Mornese faithfully preserved the life and mission of the Institute through their writings.
She then stressed the importance of radiating the richness of the Salesian Charism over time, through the daily events recorded in the chronicles of the Community. She explained clearly how to write the story effectively, using the 5W+1H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How) method to ensure that each event is documented in its completeness, capturing the spiritual, pastoral, and vocational aspects, making it meaningful and uplifting for future readers. In addition to the writing of the chronicle, she offered clarifications regarding the presentation of the photo album and the “Costumiere”, emphasizing how each of them must be documented in terms of structure and content.
In the afternoon, she presented examples of a well-documented event and an ill-described episode, guiding participants to explicitly identify 5W+1H elements, discover missing components, and propose appropriate corrections.
The workshop concluded with all participants being asked to submit two event reports, applying the principles learned, within two days of returning to their respective communities.
The Provincial expressed her gratitude to Sister Josephine Rani Susai for organizing the event and thanked all participants for their generous willingness and commitment in participating in the workshop and taking on this responsibility.
Sister Auxilia Perianayagam, on behalf of all, expressed gratitude to the Province for the precious opportunity to learn the art of writing and of transforming the chronicles into a living history that expresses the richness of the Salesian Charism. She extended gratitude to Sister Josephine Rani for her efforts in helping them recognize their vital role in making the chronicle a testimony of fidelity to the mission and a spiritual legacy for future generations.
