He also visited the Jesus the Adolescent social work to evaluate the initiatives and reception spaces offered by the institution, although he could not meet the usual attendees due to a state holiday and celebrations for Our Lady of Aparecida. At the end of the visit, the Rector of the community, Fr Silvio Roberto, accompanied Fr Romero to Araçatuba in the State of Sao Paulo, the next stage of his itinerary.
In Araçatuba, on 12 October, the Regional Councillor celebrated Mass at the parish of St Francis and St Clare, together with the local parish priest, Fr Delmiro Vieira do Nascimento Júnior. He then met with pastoral coordinators and members of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA). On this occasion he said that "The evangelising mission is the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the aim of converting those who do not believe and making them servants of Christ". He also highlighted the importance of overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers to reach populations that have not yet received the Gospel message.
On Sunday 13, Fr Romero visited the campus of the UniSalesiano University in Araçatuba. In the company of the Rector, Fr Paulo Fernando Vendrame, and other academic representatives, he visited laboratories, classrooms and the university chapel. He spoke with students, teachers and technicians and visited the recording studio, where the university's communication team produces podcasts and online broadcasts.
On Tuesday 15 October, the Councillor for America South Cone continued his Extraordinary Visitation by reaching the Salesian community at Lins, also in the State of São Paulo. In the afternoon, he met the Salesians of the community and officially opened the visit. In the evening, he presided over the Eucharistic celebration at the local parish, commemorating the liturgical feast of Saint Teresa of Avila and Teachers' Day in Brazil. And after the celebration, he recorded a message for all the teachers of the St Alphonsus Liguori Province (BCG), which was then spread through social media.
On Wednesday 16 October he visited the UniSalesiano university centre in Lins, where he met students, teachers and academic coordinators. On this occasion, he opened a chapel dedicated to the Risen Jesus in Block A, the oldest building on campus. In the evening, however, he attended a meeting with the parish leaders, accompanied by the parish priest, Fr Dídimo de Campos Filho.
On 17 October, the General Councillor concluded the visit to Lins with a final meeting with the Salesians in the community, sharing his reflections and officially closing this first phase of his Extraordinary Visitation to BCG. In the afternoon he left for São Paulo, from where he continued to Cordoba, Argentina, and then to Santiago de Chile, where he chaired the meeting of Provincials of America South Cone.
The Extraordinary Visitation to the BCG Province will resume on Friday 25 October, when Fr Romero will reach the Salesian presences in the State of Mato Grosso, starting from the city of Rondonópolis.
