In the days preceding the closing of the Extraordinary Visitation, Fr Romero had visited the educational community of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, which includes an institute and a basilica dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and a retreat house. Welcomed, on Monday 12 May, by the students and the director, Dr. Elisângela Mendes, the Salesian then met with the Pedagogical Pastoral Team and then proceeded to a meeting with the entire Educational Community, in which, in addition to listening to his interlocutors with an open heart, he also handed over the Salesian Educational Pastoral Project. The day was then completed with a meeting with the members of the liturgical animation of the basilica and those of the Association of Mary Help of Christians.
After arriving in Recife, Fr Romero met online with the Directors, parish priests and other Salesians of the Province, for a total of 42 people, to communicate their impressions and orientations of the visit.
The Regional Councilor illustrated his global vision of the Province after almost 3 months of his staying there. Subsequently, he made himself available to answer the many and varied questions of his confreres, which ranged from his impressions on the holiness of Father Cicero Romao Batista (1844-1934), to discernment and consultations for the appointment of the next Provincial; from the relationship of the parishes entrusted to the Salesians with the dioceses and with the Province, to the reality of the "Comunidade de Jovens Cristãos" Movement.
Finally, on Tuesday 18 May, Fr Romero met with all the members of the BRE Provincial Council to present all that he, in detail, found good and what could be improved in the various sectors of provincial animation, and to offer guidelines for each Salesian work.
Among the positive points, he listed: the popularity of the Provincial, the variety of Salesian presences, the creativity and missionary zeal, a trained and professional laity, the organization of youth ministry, the accompaniment of schools, the efforts of the sector of Social Communications and Vocation Ministry, the summer camps with an oratorian and missionary style. He also listed as noteworthy the good number of vocations and young Salesians, the care of initial formation, the efforts to guarantee self-sufficiency, shared service and the variety of groups of the Salesian Family.
Among the main challenges to be fulfilled, he indicated: the involvement of the Directors in provincial animation, discernment and the final choice regarding the care of elderly religious, the need for a definitive missionary project in Oeiras (PI), greater articulation of pastoral care with the school sector, and fostering the formation of new youth groups in Salesian spirituality.
