When did you
become a
Spiritist? How
did you get to
know Spiritism?
I have been a
Spiritist since
1998, when my
mother passed
away. I became
very depressed
and a friend of
mine took me to
the Spiritist
Federation of
the State of São
Paulo. I did a
Spiritual
treatment
initially and
then joined the
courses they
offered, from
the basics of
Spiritism to a
Mediumship
Course, which I
finished in
2003.
How did you
decide to move
to the state of
Rondônia?
I successfully
applied for a
post as a judge
with the
northern region
Industrial
Tribunal in 2003
and moved from
the city of São
Paulo to the
state of Acre
first and later
to Rondônia. I
lived in several
cities and towns
in the area and
in each one of
them I found a
Spiritist Centre
associate to the
Brazilian
Spiritist
Federation and
was able,
therefore, to
carry on with my
studies and
work, which will
carry on
forever.
How many
Spiritist
organisations
are there in
Cacoal?
There are six
Spiritist
organisations,
including
Spiritist
Centres and help
centres.
What is the
perception of
Spiritism taking
into account the
long distance
between Rondônia
and the larger
urban centres in
Brazil, where
Spiritism is
more popular?
Rondônia is the
Brazilian state
with the largest
number of
Protestants in
Brazil. The
charity work
carried out by
the local
Spiritist
Centres has
managed to
reduce the
prejudice many
of them have
against
Spiritism, which
is the result
mainly of lack
of proper
information
about the
Teachings.
Spiritism is
seen by many of
its followers in
Rondônia as a
movement of
renewal with a
deep moral reach
and also as a
personal and
moral form of
religion.
Are there any
Spiritist media
in the city?
No. All we have
is the
activities from
the Spiritist
Centres.
Being so far
away from São
Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro and
other big
cities, is it
too expensive
for you to get
Spiritist books,
which are so
important for
the
dissemination of
the Teachings?
Spiritist books
continue to play
a very important
role in the
dissemination of
the Teachings.
The demand is
very high and
the cost of
transport does
not inhibit
purchases.
Have you used
the Internet to
give people in
Rondônia wider
access to the
Spiritist
Teachings?
The Internet is
widely used by
the members of
the Spiritist
Movement of
Cacoal. They
access it for
research, to
follow Spiritist
Congress, to
hear Spiritist
talks and
lectures, to buy
books and to
disseminate the
activities of
Spiritist
organisations in
the state of
Rondônia The
internet
minimizes the
negative impact
that we face by
living far away
from the main
Brazilian
cities.
Who was the
pioneer of the
Spiritist
Movement in
Cacoal?
The person
responsible for
the
dissemination
and continuing
activities of
the Spiritist
city in our
city, a true
pioneer, is
Neuza Gonçalves,
who is now in
her 70s. Under
the inspiration
of Jesus and the
Spiritual
Benefactors, she
founded the
following
Spiritist
Groups: Seara do
Mestre, Joanna
de Ângelis,
Allan Kardec,
Sementes de Luz,
Caminho da
Redenção and
Eurípedes
Barsanulfo.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
Despite the
geographical
distance of our
state to the
larger Brazilian
cities, we have
many workers
here who,
through their
faith, help make
the Teachings
into a blessing
in the lives of
many people.
They are true
apostles of
Jesus,
determined to
carry on the
work of the
Christ.
Your final
thoughts,
please.
Spiritism is,
through The
Gospel According
to Spiritism,
the Consoler
promised by
Jesus. It
teaches us that
we are immortal
beings and as we
live many lives
and we generate
our own
happiness and
sadness as a
result of our
free will.
We are free to
sow and plant
but what we reap
is strictly in
accordance with
the acts we have
carried out. But
God, in his
endless mercy,
has given us
antidotes for
our pain: LOVE,
CHARITY and
FORGIVENES. He
sent us his son
Jesus to be our
model and our
guide, a friend
and companion.
Let us pray and
trust in God
because he has
the roads where
there are this
world has no
pathways.
