José Benevides Cavalcante (photo), our interviewee this week, is the renowned author of important publications in Brazil about Spiritism. He lives in his hometown of Garça, in the state of São Paulo. He became a Spiritist in 1963 and has been part of a team that for the past 45 years has braoadcast an important Spiritist radio programme. He is an educator, a Mathematics and Science teacher, school diretor and lawyer. He is also a member of the board of directors at Caminho de Damasco (Road to Damascus) Spiritist Centre. In this interview he speaks about his experience helping disseminate Spiritism on the radio. 

When and how was the Spiritist radio programme “Momento Espírita” (Spiritist Moment) launched? 

It went on air for the first time on July 2nd 1972, a Sunday, at 11.30am: exactly 45 years ago, on the old Garça Radio Club station. It was initially a 15-minute programme, part of a number of initiatives by the Caminho de Damasco Spiritist Centre at the time to help disseminate Spiritism. “Momento Espírita” is one of the oldest programmes in the area around the city of Marília ando ne of the oldest Spiritist programmes in Brazil. It has always been a weekly programme, broadcast at the same timeslot. But 26 years ago it moved to Universitária Radio and it is now 40 minutes long. It is also broadcast on the Internet at www.uniradio.com.br. 

How is the programme structured? 

It is based mainly on questions from our listeners. They phone the programme while it is on air, or send us an email or WhatsApp message, during or outside broadcast hours and the questions are answered the following Sunday. When we are dealing with an urgent matter, the person who answers the phone gives assistance to the listener straightaway. In another part of the programme, we read two chronicles from Spiritist books. The whole team, including technicians, has 10 people.  

Do you pay the radio station for the slot? Has there been any interruption to the weekly transmissions in these 45 years? 

No, there has never been any interruption in 45 years. The programme has gone on air more than 2,200 times. It is scripted and handed out to the presenters in good time, so they can prepare. One of our main priorities is to keep a high level of professionalism, using clear and concise language. Our aim is to disseminate the principles of Spiritism as codified by Allan Kardec in a reliable manner. We pay for the slot through an exchange, providing other services. But I must say that the radio station’s managers have always made clear that they really liked our programme. 

How do you choose the issued to be discussed in the programme? 

We have a prevailing theme in each edition, but we deal with a number of issue. Each programme is structured in the following manner: a) opening, introducing the issues that will be discussed; b) a piece about a relevant issue from our times, linked to science or philosophy; c) 3 or 4 questions from our listeners; d) an explainer on one of the aspects of Spiritism e) an article from a book; f) slot for dissemination of the Spiritist library; g) news about upcoming Spiritist events; h) a message written by the late Spiritist medium, Chico Xavier; i) closing.  

Is the programme broadcast live? 

It is always live. As we have 10 people in the team, we never lack a presenter to put the programme on air. We have female and male presenters. Several of our presenters have passed away along these 45 years. What really strikes me the programme’s reach. We get 10 to 12 listeners phoning in every Sunday and we are always told about new listeners joining us. Many people who come to our Spiritist Centre tell us that they found out about Spiritism through the radio programme.  

Can you mention at least two remarkable stories you have experienced in the programme? 

One of our listeners was a 70-year-old woman who phoned us every Sunday and thanked us for the programme’s comforting messages. She came from a Catholic family, however, and often told us that she could not believe in reincarnation. We used to tell her not to worry about that and to continue listening, taking from the programme the lessons that could help her. One day, many years later, she came in person to the radio station to thank us. She was very emotional and hugged every one of us. She had finally been convinced by reincarnation. A few months later she passed away. 

Another interesting story involved a man from the city of Marília, who used to phone us too. One day he asked us a question about reincarnation in his family. He wanted our opinion and we talked to him. At the end of the conversation, as it became clear that he had a great deal of knowledge about Spiritism, we asked him which Spiritist Centre he usually attended. For our surprise, he told us he was an Evangelical Protestant. But he said he believed in reincarnation and added that many people from his church listened to the programme regularly. That reminded me of what Kardec said, that the Spiritist ideas would spread naturally, in a subtle and silent manner.  

Finally, what do you think about the dissemination of Spiritism through the radio?