How did you
become a
Spiritist?
I was lucky to
be born in a
Spiritist home.
When my parents
got married they
decided to adopt
Spiritism as the
guideline to
their lives. I
was taken to a
Spiritist Centre
from a very
early age and
went through the
youth groups.
The Centre I was
taken to was
founded by my
father. My
mother was its
first one in
charge of
teaching
Spiritism to the
early age
groups. I
continued to
work at that
Spiritist
Centre, in the
Indápolis area
of Dourados, and
became a teacher
like my mother.
At the age of 26
I was elected
president of the
Spiritist Centre
and served two
terms. In 1987,
I moved to the
centre of
Dourados and
joined the
Bezerra de
Menezes
Spiritist
Centre.
What impact has
the knowledge of
Spiritism had in
your thoughts
and actions?
I believe that
Spiritism is the
light in our
lives. It
provides an
explanation to
many things and
shows us the
reality of
essential
matters. That
makes the
difference. I am
still trying to
put into
practice the
principles
taught in
Spiritism but I
at least know
what is right
and wrong, as
well as what I
am expected to
achieve,
regardless of
the opinion of
those around me,
who are often
very critical.
So, what I think
now, how I feel
and how I act is
the result of
all I know about
Spiritism. Every
morning I feel I
have an
opportunity to
grow spiritually
and I realize
how much I still
have in order to
progress.
What is your
assessment of
the Spiritist
Movement in
Brazil at the
moment?
The Spiritist
Movement is made
of people, who
naturally think
and act in
different ways,
even though they
are all guided
by the Spiritist
Teachings. That
is why the
Spiritist
Movement is not
homogeneous. We
take into the
Movement the
pride, which is
still inside us,
the
individualism,
our vanities:
our personal
challenges, in
sum. And that
has hampered the
development of
the Spiritist
Movement. The
great leader of
the unification
of Spiritism in
Brazil, Bezerra
de Menezes,
invited us to
embrace union
and unification,
saying that: “If
we show
solidarity to
each other, then
we will be
united.
Separated from
each other, we
will be points
of view.
Together, we
will achieve the
realization of
our goals”. He
advised us: “And
if a house be
divided against
itself, that
house cannot
stand”.
The Spiritist
Movement
continues,
however, to
mature and to
learn because
“the time has
come”. The
prospects are
very positive
for a number of
reasons,
including the
fact that we
have never had
so many high
quality
Spiritist events
providing us the
opportunity to
carry out deep
reflections
about how we put
into practice
what we have
learned.
What aspect of
Spiritism
strikes you the
most?
Its clarity,
rationality and
its logical
aspect.
What would you
highlight from
your experience
as a teacher and
speaker in the
Spiritist
Movement?
It is the
understanding
that we need to
continue, more
and more, to
know more about
us so we can
become better
people and help
others. Also,
the conviction
that all that we
do has an impact
on the universe
and on
ourselves. And
the conviction
that love must
guide all our
actions.
How much do you
think people are
interested in
getting to know
more about
Spiritism?
Year after year
I noticed that
there are more
people
interested in
finding out
about the
Spiritist
Teachings. The
number of people
coming to us to
join one of our
regular courses
continues to
increase. A few
years ago people
came to
Spiritist
Centres because
they were facing
health problems
or disturbances
of a spiritual
nature. Now
people are
coming to us
with the purpose
finding out more
about Spiritism.
I work as
coordinator of
the study groups
in the Bezerra
de Menezes
Spiritist
Centre, but I
also give talks,
which provides
me with the
opportunity to
look into a
particular issue
from different
perspectives.
That also gives
me the
opportunity to
continue
studying and
improving my
knowledge of
Spiritism, as
well as to gauge
the needs and
demands of the
public.
Is there any
particular event
from your
experience that
you would like
to share with
us?
I am really
moved by the
role Spiritism
plays in giving
comfort and
console to
people in their
most difficult
times. Spiritism
lifts and renews
in each and
every one of us
the hope of
continuing
living.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
I would like to
say that I
cannot imagine
my existence
without the
presence of the
Spiritist
Teachings. I
would like to
thank you for
this
opportunity,
reminding
everyone that
God’s mercy is
endless and
reaches
everyone. Our
challenges
happen every day
and it is
important to
have faith and
trust in God and
in His loving
intentions for
our lives. Life
goes on and
Jesus is with
us. That makes
all the
difference, dear
brothers and
sisters. Peace
to everyone!
