What has been
the most
striking aspect
of Spiritism in
your family
life?
What has marked
my family life
the most as a
Spiritist has
been the
realization that
the knowledge of
Spiritism and
its practice in
the home provide
parents and
children with
better
opportunities to
learn with each
other and,
therefore, to be
in peace.
What memories do
you have of
Cairbar
Schutel?
I don’t have
many memories of
Cairbar, as I
wasn’t even
eleven when he
passed away, on
January 30th
1938. My memory
as a child was
of a handsome,
elegant and
friendly man,
kind to
everyone. He was
always well
dressed, usually
wearing a white
suit and tie,
and goatee he
had somehow made
him distinctive.
He was pleasant
to everyone and,
even though he
was humble, he
could be
forceful. He was
good hearted and
generous,
especially
towards the
poor. He treated
animals as
though they were
human beings. He
was a great
speaker and knew
like few to put
his views
across,
engulfing
everyone with
this empathy and
personality.
What can you
tell us about
Hugo Gonçalves?
Hugo Gonçalves
was the person
who best
understood, felt
and lived
according the
teachings of
Cairbar Schutel.
He was his
unconditional
admirer and
assimilated
Cairbar’s main
qualities. I
believe he was
one of the
branches of the
big, leafy tree
planted by
Schutel in Matão.
He transplanted
a shooting of
that tree to the
city of Cambé,
in the southern
state of Paraná,
where it rooted
and produced
shade for people
in need and bore
flowers and
fruits for all.
The whole region
in northern
Paraná
benefitted from
his work there.
He was the
co-founder of O
IMORTAL, a
newspaper that
is still
published. He
worked from many
years with
children in need
and, in Matão,
was always the
uncle all the
nephews loved.
He introduced me
to Spiritism and
gave me great
encouragement
when I presented
my first pieces
at the meetings
of the Amantes
da Pobreza
Spiritist
Centre, which
has become O
CLARIM.
Tell us a bit
about your work
at the Lar
Infantil Cairbar
Schutel
(Children’s
Home).
I have always
loved children
and I’ve had the
opportunity to
work in this
very rewarding
field for
decades. The
children’s home
was founded on
May 8th
1955. I have
very moving
memories of
everyone there,
children and
volunteers. It
has become an
extension of my
family, where
I’ve lived happy
days. My
children have
learned to
accept the girls
who lived there
as sisters. And
that is still
the case.
How does a
Spiritist feel
when he
approaches 90
years of
existence in the
matter?
I think often
about the
missionaries of
Spiritism, the
pioneers, and
about question
798 of The
Spirits’ Book,
when the
Spiritual
Benefactors who
worked with
Kardec said that
Spiritism would
one day become
generally
accepted and
common belief of
everyone. That
is happening,
albeit
step-by-step.
Spiritism says
humanity is
going through an
important
change, becoming
a world of
Regeneration.
Brazil, as the
heart of the
world and nation
of the Gospel,
has a duty of
spreading
Spiritism to the
rest of
humankind, which
is eager for
guidance and
light. We are
leading through
example here.
With the
formation of
Spiritist
Associations in
Brazil for the
different
professions we
will take
Spiritism to
doctors,
lawyers,
military
personnel,
psychologists
etc. That will
have a positive
impact on
Spiritism too,
as it will be
able to develop
its scientific
aspect. And as
people put into
practice what
they learn in
Spiritism, they
will help the
transformation
of the world in
the new epoch.
What has been
the most
remarkable event
of your life?
The fact that
has marked my
existence was
the foundation
of the Cairbar
Schutel Youth
Movement, which
has enabled us
to take part in
the first
Brazilian
congress of
Spiritist youth
groups in Rio de
Janeiro in 1948.
The meeting was
planned and
organized by
Professor
Leopoldo
Machado, the
great encourager
of the Spiritist
Youth Movement
in the country.
After that youth
group, I became
part of the
Cairbar Schutel
Spiritist
Community, where
I had the
opportunity to
study and learn
more about the
Teachings. I
changed my
approach to
life, formed a
family and with
the help of all,
of Dirce (my
wife, who has
already returned
to the Spirit
World) and
children, I have
been able to
carry on with my
work there.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
I was born in a
Spiritist
family. My
maternal
grandparents
were great
friends of
Cairbar Schutel.
My dear mother
was educated in
Spiritism from a
very young age.
She was a great
admirer of the
work of Cairbar
and used to
recite poetry
that he used to
pick and help
her rehearse for
special events
at the Amantes
da Pobreza
Spiritist
Centre. She
followed her
beliefs and
brought up her
children in
Spiritism from a
young age. I can
say, therefore,
that I have been
a Spiritist
since childhood.
