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(ANS – Quito) – The Salesian tradition of writing the house chronicle continues. This practice, which has had its ups and downs was already begun in Don Bosco day and had the purpose of documenting the life and work of the houses. An important source for historians now it has been given special attention with seminars such as that held in the Ecuador Province.

Without a past there is no future and without documents there is no history. These convictions, now widespread in the Salesian Congregation, thanks also to the efforts of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS) and the Salesian Historians’ Association (ACSSA), were the reason for the work of the  II meeting for archivists and writers of the house chronicles in the Salesian houses in Ecuador, held on Monday 24 January at the Provincial House in Quito.

Taking part were Fr Marcelo Farfán, Provincial, Fr Pedro Creamer, Director of the Historical Archives and 25 writers of the chronicle in the Salesian houses.

The purpose of the meeting was to assess the implementation of the decisions taken last year and to plan future activities. In the first place the results were examined such as the collection of many documents, the support given to the organisation of the archives and general willingness to draw up the chronicles. Among the difficulties encountered were the lack of adequate space for the archives, the little time available for those responsible for them and the lack of the necessary personnel.

Among the priorities noted for 2011 were the establishment of the appropriate organisation of the house archives; the drawing up of a more regular chronicle and the sending to Rome each year of the documents required. To achieve all this and in view of the difficulties encountered those present identified some examples of good practice: requesting the collaboration of the community, making them aware of the importance of an historical memory, organising the necessary teams and drawing up the documents according to certain fixed deadlines.

Those present also considered the possibility of producing a guide for the writing of obituary letters and for ways of making the archives easy to consult so that the Rector of the house would have access to all the historical and biographical information of which he might have need.

The day ended with a report on the International Congress “Don Rua in history” held last October in Rome, presented by  Fr Juan Bottasso and Fr Jorge Molina.

Published 26/01/2011