On Tuesday, 19 March, the Regional Councillor met with the ARS Youth Ministry team at the Provincial Centre. The different members of the team, representing the different areas and sectors, presented him with the progress of Youth Ministry in the Province, and Father Romero, after listening carefully, expressed his impressions of this first part of the Extraordinary Visitation and encouraged everyone to continue with the proposals for the animation of youth camps, with visits to the houses and by continuing to offer areas for meeting and formation.
"Thank you for your closeness and your fraternity, for listening and for the drive to continue working for children and young people, especially for those who are most at risk and vulnerable at this time", Salesian Brother Agustín Camiletti, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry in ARS said at the end of the meeting.
On Wednesday, 20 March, Father Romero visited the teams involved with the National Salesian Bulletin and the Por los Jóvenes – Don Bosco Provincial Planning and Development Office in the Almagro district of Buenos Aires, collecting the testimonies of their respective work and offering ideas for continued growth. In the afternoon, due to the inclement weather that hit Buenos Aires and its surroundings during those days, he attended the regional meeting with members of the Salesian Family by videoconference.
On 20-21 March, Father Bauer visited the Don Bosco House in the Congreso neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. There he met with students and school authorities and concluded his visit with a meeting with young leaders in the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM). While on the following two days, 22 and 23 March, he was at the San Pedro centre in the La Boca district. After meeting the heads of the various sectors, Father Bauer met with the Council of the Work, where he analysed the work plan and some strengths and areas for improvement in the current project of the house. On Saturday, moreover, he enriched the traditional meeting of educators of all the services of the house with his presence. This meeting takes place every year at the beginning of the school year He reflected together on the Strenna of the Rector Major for 2024: "‘the DREAM THAT MAKES YOU DREAM’. A heart that transforms ‘wolves’ into ‘lambs’”.
"With his pleasant and simple presence, Father Alfonso encouraged the whole community to never stop wondering if Don Bosco is really still present in this house, through the proposals and services aimed at the boys, girls and young people of this neighbourhood", pastoral collaborator Santiago Valdemoros testified about this visit.
On Monday, 25 March, Father Romero met with the Provincial Economy Team in Almagro. In the meeting, led by the Economer, Father Gabriel Doddi, the Regional Councillor learned about the processes that the different sectors carry out to deal with the numerous projects of the Province and the Salesian Houses. After the visit, the team also took advantage of the meeting to evaluate the recent digital meeting of the Rectors and Economers from houses in the Province.
On 26 March Father Romero left Buenos Aires and arrived at the "centenary" oratory in Avellaneda, for a first opportunity to get to know and converse with the Educative and Pastoral Community there. On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 March, he visited the Salesian house in Bernal, and met with the coordinators and others responsible for the SYM. In this way, he gained an opportunity for a fruitful discussion with those present, to listen and learn about the dreams of young people and their desires, their concerns and their fears. Father Romero then asked them to continue to dream and to commit themselves to fulfilling Don Bosco's dreams; he encouraged them not to give up and to continue working for their peers, especially the most vulnerable and fragile, giving them opportunities for trust, friendship, growth in faith and serenity, where their dreams can develop.
On Holy Thursday, 28 March, he shared the day with his Salesian confreres, and was able to speak with each of them and share together the community life and the powerful moments at the start of the Easter Triduum. On Good Friday, however, he returned to Avellaneda, where he presided over the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross and the Supper.
Between 30 March and 2 April, Father Romero visited the Salesian presence in San Isidro, and spent two days with the Casa Zatti community, where he met the elderly and sick Salesians who currently live in the nursing home. On Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 April, again, he visited the Buon Pastore Salesian Houses at Isidro Casanova, welcomed by the Salesians there with whom he shared conversation and community life, and where he was also able to visit the various buildings, meet the different teams and young people who attend the different activities offered by the house.
Finally, on 5, 6 and 7April , the Regional Councillor for America South Cone visited the Our Lady of Peace Salesian house in Trelew, talking with his confreres, educators and young people from the different areas of this work in Patagonia. On Sunday he also presided at Sunday Mass and met with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and Bishop Roberto Pío Álvarez, of the newly erected diocese of Rawson.
In this way, Fathers Romero and Bauer continue to accompany the Salesian houses and the pastoral teams of ARS on behalf of the Rector Major, fostering a sense of unity between them and with the entire Salesian Congregation.
