"At first I went to work in the favelas, and after studying theology I had an experience in the oratory", Father Boldori began to recount his experience of Salesian missionary life.
After a first stop at the oratory in Jaboatão dos Guararapes, he was sent to vocational schools, also serving in the school in Bongi, "which was a point of reference" for the city, although today it is no longer active. "At the time there were more than 800 students who attended the courses in Mechanics, Graphics, Carpentry, Bakery..." Fr Boldori recalled.
"After this period" he continued "I spent 17 years in Natal-Gramoré. There was nothing. We started the courses, starting with the bakery courses." These 17 years were interrupted, between 1995 and 1998, by being the Provincial Economer. A period not without challenges, because the Provincial of the time, Fr Valerio Breda, was appointed bishop and Fr Boldori felt left alone and almost "a sense of abandonment".
At the same time, Fr Boldori never neglected his traditional commitment as a priest: "I have extensive experience in pastoral work" he can say today, without sounding too proud. And thanks to this service, the missionary has also regained energy and security. “Currently the Provincial has sent me to Juazeiro do Norte, as confessor. It is eight hours a day of Confessions, 80% by young people. I did not imagine that the experience in Juazeiro do Norte would be so beautiful." And he confides: "I was exhausted, but now I have recovered thanks to Confessions."
Juazeiro is a work full of activity. It includes the São João Bosco institute, the Horto do Padre Cícero, the Sagrado Coração de Jesus praish, the FM Padre Cícero Radio, the Padre Cícero Museum, the house of formation, 12 oratories, the Salesian Youth Movement and the Association of Mary Help of Christians and Salesian Cooperators.
The figure of Father Cícero Romão Batista (1844-1934), who was recently awarded the posthumous qualification of Salesian Cooperator, is a central element for the activities of the work. Every year it welcomes over a million pilgrims who reach the shrine dedicated to him, remembering and paying homage to this priest who in life was almost excommunicated, but for whom the cause of beatification and canonisation has now been initiated.
"Like Don Bosco, he had dreams/visions and dedicated himself to evangelising the people through Eucharistic adoration, Confession and the enthronement of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary" says Fr Boldori fervently. "In addition, he was attentive to society: he asked people to plant trees, to make cisterns to collect rainwater, to welcome all pilgrims... And when the war came there, he helped liberate the city. Then, since he wanted to see the city grow with education, he asked that the Salesians come to Juazeiro to educate young people."
In conclusion, the Salesian also delivered a very significant teaching, especially for the Missions Sector: "Many times it is not easy: when you arrive in a foreign context you can feel disoriented, are tempted to leave and you can also lose your vocation. This is why you have to be especially prepared."
