Before climbing aboard the plane, Fr Á.F. Artime said, "I want to convey to you my gratitude in a special way. Let's start with a heart full of faces, smiles, hugs, words that we have exchanged, a shared life ... I have found that the Salesian charism is, indeed, always alive."
The last three days were especially intense. On Friday, 11 May, he met circa 150 people among Salesians and lay members of the teams directing the country's Salesian centers. At the retreat house "El Pelicano", on the outskirts of Montevideo, the Rector Major said that the path of the spirit and of the mission between Salesians and laity could not but be together, united.
On Saturday, 12 May, at 8:15, the Rector Major shared breakfast with members of the various Communication teams of the Province, at "Radio Oriental 770 AM", the radio station of the Archdiocese of Montevideo. Because of the presence of the Rector Major in Uruguay, organizers rescheduled the procession in honor of Mary Help of Christians to an earlier date to coincide with the Rector Major's visit. Alongside the welcome presence of the Archbishop of Montevideo, Salesian Cardinal Daniel Sturla, Fr Á.F. Artime accompanied the thousands of people who took part in the great Marian feast.
On Sunday, May 13, the Feast of St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello, the Rector Major met the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in their Provincial House. "No one will knock on our doors unless we offer an experience of life that allows us to clearly hear and feel God in our midst, as a fraternity full of humanity," he said. He also encouraged them to remain faithful to the charism: "Do not be afraid. If the Institute and the Congregation remain faithful to what is most essential of our charism, the Spirit will continue to accompany us."
Fr Alfonso Bauer, the Provincial, said, "The presence of the X Successor of Don Bosco was a meeting that strengthened and encouraged us to continue to serve young people with enthusiasm and optimism."
