Santa Bárbara
D’Oeste is a
Brazilian
municipality in
São Paulo state,
near the city of
Campinas, some
138Km north-west
of the state
capital, São
Paulo. According
to the 2010
census, it had a
population of
178,596 people.
How many
Spiritist
centres are
there in the
city? Which one
was the first
one to be
founded?
There are eight
Spiritist
Centres in the
city. The first
one was founded
in 1916, the
Batuíra
Spiritist Cente.
But it was only
officially
registered in
1947. If you
take into
account the
oficial date of
registration,
the pioneer
organization in
the city is the
Caminho do
Progresso
Spiritist Group,
founded in 1932
by Carlos
Steagall.
How did you
become a
Spiritist?
I was born in a
Spiritist
family.
What strikes you
the most in
Spiritism?
The liberating
character of its
Teachings, as
Spiritism
unravels the
mysteries of
eternal life in
a simple,
overwhelming and
liberating
manner.
How is the
Spiritist
Movement in the
city doing in
terms of
integration
between the
different groups
and concerted
efforts for the
dissemination of
the Teachings?
The five
Spiritist
Centres who are
members of the
USE are very
united in all of
their events. We
have been able
to produce a
weekly radio
programme, which
for the past 17
years has been
broadcast every
Sunday. And
after more than
30 years, we
have managed to
have set up
again our
Spiritist Book
Stall.
What is your
assessment of
the Spiritist
Movement in
Brazil at the
moment?
I think there is
more
organization.
The Spiritist
Groups are more
focused on
studying and
teaching the
Gospel, courses
and seminars.
What are, in
your opinion,
the biggest
challenges for
the expansion of
Spiritism
today?
The lack of
drive and
initiative by
volunteers and
those in charge
of many
Spiritist
Centres.
From your
experiences in
so many years in
Spiritism, what
is your
outstanding
memory?
I remember that
from a very
young age I had
no choice: it
was “either go
to the Spiritist
Centre or go to
the Spiritist
Centre”. I used
to sleep on the
benches there,
as I had to go
with my parents.
I have many
outstanding
memories,
especially as I
used to go along
with my cousin,
Elisabeth
Steagall
Pirtoucheg, a
great Spiritist
speaker in the
1960s and 70s,
and I also
attended the
meetings of the
youth group. In
my youth, I took
part in many
meetings
gathering youth
groups from São
Paulo state (COMECELESP).
Anything else
you would like
to add?
I am grateful to
my parents for
their effort in
bringing me up
as a Spiritist,
and especially
to my mother.
They made me
realize how
important
Spiritism was.
They stood firm
in their
determination
and I am
grateful to this
day, as I know I
still am a
Spirit who
needed a steady
hand to guide me
in my formation.
