centre Francisco de Assis start?

It started with an informal meeting at my house. My friends Dorival and Teresa Martins were present. The proposal was to start a project which would be as loyal as possible to Kardec’s work. We managed to get a piece of land from the city hall, and then started to raise funds to build a building. We then founded the spiritist centre Francisco de Assis on the 28th March 1988. It is located at Benedito Guagliardi, 291, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. 

O Consolador: What does your institution do?  

The spiritist centre Francisco de Assis (CEFA) has now 33 departments that are working together towards helping people in need by providing: medical, deontological and jurisdictional assistance; Accident and Emergency assistance; addiction treatment assistance; school for children between 9 and 11 years of age; psychography by providing special assistance to families; study of the Doctrine, public lectures with healing sessions; spiritist education for children and youth; clothes and food donation; healing at home; professional training for people in need through the Educational Institute Francisco de Assis (IEFA) and the disclosure of lectures through ADDE – Association for the Disclosure of the Spiritist Doctrine.  

O Consolador: What are the biggest challenges your institution face?

We do have some challenges, but they are minimized with our monthly meetings. We review all the 33 different departments that are part of CEFA. We motivate our workers to promote the centre constantly so we can raise funds to maintain the institution. 

O Consolador: How many workers do you have at the centre?  

We could with approximately 250 workers who have been oriented to develop a fraternal, disciplined and responsible task. 

O Consolador: Where do the material resources come from? 

The material resources used in our activities come from the contribution of our associates. We also sell pizzas, sweets, cakes and organise dinner events to raise funds. 

O Consolador: What does IEFA stand for? What are its objectives? 

The Educational Institute Francisco de Assis (IEFA) aims to help poor people to get up to speed with their professional life. The main goal is to help them connect with their own dignity. We now have an area with approximately 7.000 meters where our Head Office will be built. 

O Consolador: How would someone proceed, if they want to collaborate with the project? 

The institution has a bank account on the name of IEFA: Banco do Brasil – sort code 3588-2 – account number 11867-2. All donations are welcome! 

O Consolador: What have you achieved so far with this project? 

We worked together with the National Commercial Training Service (SENAC), who is a vocational training institution open to society as a whole. In this project we aimed to help housemaids become more professional, help young people from the age of 15 to 19 to get jobs, either in the construction field or elsewhere. We will soon start a project which will include homeless people to get jobs.  

O Consolador: Has the fact that you are based in a massive State like São Paulo helped your activities? 

Yes, it has helped. The spiritist movement is very strong here. We have 100 spiritist centres, which helps our activities as the level of awareness of the Doctrine is quite expressive. 

O Consolador: How are the lecturers transmitted via the internet? 

We founded ADDE – Association for the Disclosure of the Spiritist Doctrine – two years ago. This institute is responsible for divulging the doctrine via internet (www.adde.org.br). 

O Consolador: Which experience has been more remarkable for you within the last years? 

CEFA is a very fraternal group. We consider ourselves to be a real family; everyone is really committed to the tasks. 

O Consolador: Can you please give us your final words? 

I would like to express my gratitude to those who have helped us, directly and indirectly. We would like to thank everyone from the physical and spiritual world who is dedicated to the work at the spiritist centre Francisco de Assis. These 21 years of existence have leaded us all to learn so much from CEFA. We have tried to keep being happy at all times, as Francisco de Assis recommended. We will continue to work constantly on the task of disclosing Jesus’ teachings, loving one another.