I was born in a
family that was
changing from
Catholicism to
Spiritism. I
used to go to
Sunday mass,
taken by a very
religious
neighbour who
did that with
lot of love. I
also did my
first communion.
I was always
very moved by
the chants and
ceremony in the
Catholic Church,
which I
eventually
interpreted as a
sign that I had
been a priest in
previous
incarnations. I
became
interested in
Spiritism when I
went to
university and
shared a room
with a Spiritist
friend. Our long
conversations
and some good
debates
strengthened in
both of us our
Spiritist
principles. We
then joined a
youth Spiritist
movement. In
that phase of my
life, I became
very
anti-Church, but
time changed
that and I am
now not only
tolerant but
sympathetic to
the many ways of
connecting with
God.
And when did you
begin your
association with
the Nosso Lar
Spiritist
Centre?
It all began
when we met
regularly at the
Obreiros do Bem
Spiritist
Society. One of
our companions
there said he
was embarrassed
when a relative
of his, who was
a Spiritist, had
come to visit
and asked him to
take him to some
Spiritist
charity project
in the city. But
there was none.
The afternoon
when he told us
that we decided
to set up such a
project. And as
in those days
there were many
children begging
in our city, we
decided to found
an institution
to help
children. As I
was the
secretary of the
meeting where
that institution
was founded on
December 2nd
1962, I became
naturally linked
to it. I am now
the only founder
of the
organization
still incarnated
and in full
activity.
What are the
organisation’s
main
activities?
We attend
regularly 230
children aged
from 4 months to
4 years. We have
a number of
projects,
including
sports,
recreation and
entertainment,
focusing on
after school
clubs. We also
have a project
to inform
teenagers about
pregnancy and to
help teenage
mothers. We
often say that
we look after
the children
from before they
are born until
they are ready
to face the
world. We also
run Spiritist
courses, talks,
mediumship
groups and other
activities in
nearby
facilities.
What aspect of
Spiritism
strikes you the
most?
To show why each
one of us is
incarnated here
and, through the
Spiritist model,
to show the best
way of making
the most out of
this opportunity
of progress and
happiness we
have.
What is the
strongest memory
you have of your
experience as a
Spiritist?
Without
Spiritism I
would not have
done a third
even of what I
have
accomplished so
far. Of all I
have received
from Spiritism,
perhaps the most
important has
been the
opportunity to
build a family
and a home, with
a true guardian
angel as wife
and four
Spirits, who, as
children, I
leave to the
world as my
legacy.
After so many
years in the
Spiritist
Movement, what
activities or
organisations
would you like
to highlight?
The Spiritist
Movement is like
a good seed that
fell on good
soil – the
Brazilian
people. When I
see Spiritist
themes and
issues as part
of the plot of
films and soap
operas, when I
see common
people in Brazil
mentioning so
naturally
reincarnation,
Spiritual
obsession and
the interchange
with the Spirit
world, I realize
that in a few
decades
Spiritism has
conquered its
place through
its rationality
and the strength
of its core
principles.
What else would
you like to
add?
We are on the
right path. We
have in our
hands huge
wealth, not only
a few talents.
What will we
have to say to
the Master of
life about all
the treasures we
have received?
Having been born
on the land
Chico Xavier had
as his labouring
field makes us
indebted from
birth with
Divine
Providence.
