The moderator of the day was Fr. Carlo Lira, Provincial of Chile.

Fr. Darío Perera, Superior of the Province of Southern Argentina, which is hosting the meeting, welcomed everyone, introduced his Councilors, and invited everyone present to feel "at home." Then the presentations continued for all the various Councilors of the Provinces involved: Argentina North (ARN), Chile (CIL), Uruguay (URU), Paraguay (PAR) Brazil-Belo Horizonte (BBH), Brazil-Campo Grande (BCG), Brazil-Manaus (BMA), Brazil-Porto Alegre (BPA), Brazil-Recife (BRE), and Brazil-São Paulo (BSP). Lastly, the Rector Major introduced the members of his Council and with his opening message formally began the Team Visit.

In his message, he spoke about the origins of this type of meeting, and that, at one of the last General Chapters, it was decided to continue this form of Visit to the regions, to share life and animate the Provinces in the middle of the six-year term. It is an opportunity to feel the pulse as a region, to review and see the realities and matters to be strengthened, starting with the Provincial Chapters and the animation of each of the Councils, where there are so many things in common and so many specificities that make them unique.

Likewise, he described it as "a fruit of the Spirit" to be able to see "how we are sustained as a Congregation by a believing adventure in which we are making a charismatic journey, not one of survival, but one of supporting the mission with charismatic fidelity."

"The charismatic life of the region does not depend on the number of Salesians, but on looking at the reasons for hope that we have as Sons of Don Bosco, as Salesian Family in this region, in each nation, in each province, to guarantee the beautiful charismatic identity that we have today in each presence."

In summing up, the Rector Major pointed out that the charism and the reasons for hope go beyond people, and are the outlook and sentiment with which life is shared.

Afterward, Fr. Romero presented a report on the Salesian situation in South Cone America. This was followed by an interesting session of mutual exchanges, reflection, and questions among all participating Salesians.

In the afternoon, Fr. Ivo Coelho, General Councilor for Formation, led the third session of the day, giving a presentation on the Salesian consecrated identity and ongoing formation. In his talk, he outlined the current state of Salesian consecrated identity and concluded with a proposed pathway that could help the discernment of the Provincials and their Councils for animation and governance in each Province.

The Councilor for Southern Cone America, together with the Provincials of PAR, Fr. Mario Villalba, and URU, Fr. Alfonso Bauer, presented the Inspirational Horizon 2022-2025 of Consecrated Life in America proposed by the Confederation of Religious of Latin America and the Caribbean (CLAR). The document is based on "Women of Dawn. Bold hope at the break of dawn" ("Early in the morning, on the first day after the Sabbath, they came to the tomb at sunrise" Mark 16:2).  Time was given to present the document addressing the socio-political context of Latin American peoples, the ecclesial reality and the need for synodality for Religious Life in Latin America, as well as the proposed biblical framework. Finally, CLAR's proposals for living this horizon were shared.

Before concluding the day with the Eucharist, there was a work of reflection and discernment in groups, in which the Salesians were able to dialogue about CLAR's proposals from a series of guiding questions.

In this way, the first day of the Team Visit to the America Southern Cone Region came to a close.

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