The Rector Major first thanked everyone for what they had experienced during the visit. He thanked especially the Salesians of Paraguay for their welcome. He shared with those present the draft final report of the Team Visit, in which he reflected on the beautiful reality that emerged from the different provinces and said that they are well oriented and progressing in the right direction.
He stressed care for and growth of Salesian identity in the region. "For the Provincial and his Council this means a vision to govern and animate every province," he said. The reconfiguration of the Provinces, Fr A.F. Artime said, should be interpreted as a full response to the present and looking to the future.
He highlighted the importance of the option for the laity. "The shared mission is the sign of this age and is a part of our identity that cannot be ignored," he said.
Then he invited the Salesians to come out of their comfort zones, from what is familiar and known, from what has always been done and learned. "This is an invitation to return to the mission, to go out," he said.
He made special mention of formation in view of the Salesian Mission, and he asked that care be taken of the Salesians with a “missionary restlessness”. At the same time, he invited the provinces to prepare the ground so that they may be open to multiculturalism and internationalization of the communities.
Quoting the Pope, Fr A.F. Artime also drew attention to "two great plagues of the Church which are clericalism and seeking power." On the reconfiguration of the Salesian presence, he said "it is essential to recover the centre of our vocation and mission."
The Team Visit ended after four days, with the Eucharist in the chapel of the Salesian Family of Ypacaraí.
