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Marly Salete is
a primary school
teacher, with
degrees in
Pedagogy and
Psychopedagogy.
Flávio Alberto
Webber is a well
known radio
broadcaster in
the city of
Lagoa Vermelha,
in the southern
Brazilian state
of Rio Grande do
Sul. He as a
degree in
Portuguese
Language
Literature and
is reading
Psychology at
university.
Together, they
lead a dedicated
team of
Spiritist
workers at
Spiritist
Society
Teresinha de
Jesus.
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Marly first came
to the group
aged 19, looking
for clear
answers to the
big questions on
the existence of
the spirit and
the real meaning
of life. She
began to attend
the study groups
and eventually
joined the group
as one of the
volunteer
workers. She is
now the
president of the
group. She is in
charge of the
study groups and
also works as a
medium and
guiding
discarnate
spirits. |
Flávio was
encouraged by
his wife, Marly,
to study the
Doctrine. He
began attending
the study groups
and reading
avidly Spiritist
books. That was
in the mid-90s.
He has since
joined the
Spiritist
Society
Teresinha de
Jesus as a
volunteer,
working mainly
with the group’s
study groups.
In this
interview, they
share with us
their thoughts
and the
challenges faced
on their daily
work as
Spiritists:
You are both
dedicated
Spiritist
workers. What
does that mean
to you, in your
lives?
The Spiritist
Doctrine plays a
crucial role in
our lives. We
can say our
lives are
organised in
such a manner
that our work in
the Spiritist
group is never
compromised. We
make a concerted
effort to
conciliate
family life,
work and the
activities
related to the
Spiritist
Movement with
the same
dedication. We
are above all
thankful to God
for the
privilege of
being Spiritists
and of being
useful somehow,
despite our
limitations.
Has any event in
your life ever
tempted you to
consider
abandoning your
work as
Spiritists?
We’ve been
through some
very tough
times, but we
never even
considered
giving up, as we
fully aware that
our biggest
commitment is
with Christ’s
Doctrine. If the
bitter fruits of
our
imperfections
come along the
way even with
all the support
from the
Doctrine,
imagine what
would happen to
us without that
lighthouse to
guide us.
How do you cope
with the surge
of attendance in
most Spiritist
groups across
the country in
the last few
years?
We haven’t
experienced a
marked growth in
attendances
lately, except
for the big
events, such as
the Spiritist
Week, when there
is a fourfold
increase in
numbers. We have
a very united
team, who
prepare well
ahead of time
for those
occasions.
How do you deal
with the
specific demands
from children
and young people
in general who
come to you?
We try our best,
considering our
limitations. We
try to encourage
our volunteer
workers to
prepare and read
about issues
that concern
young people, so
they are ready
to help. We also
try to provide a
relaxed
atmosphere,
where young
people will feel
at ease and will
feel comfortable
to share their
problems and
concerns.
Flávio, as a
well-known radio
broadcaster, how
do you use the
gift of your
voice to help
building a
better world?
Just like in any
other
profession, it
is important for
the radio
broadcaster to
be ethical,
serious about he
does and most of
all to be aware
of the
responsibility
he has towards
other people’s
lives. I always
aim to bring my
listeners a
message of
optimism, of
hope and faith.
I renew on a
daily basis my
prayers so that
God will allow
my voice to
carry on being a
tool for good
and the truth,
delivering a
message of peace
and good moral
values. I
believe we can
live the
Doctrine
anywhere we are,
in any occasion
and situation.
Tell us a bit
more about the
Spiritist Week
of Lagoa
Vermelha.
The event was
first held in
2005, when we
were celebrating
the 60th
anniversary of
our group. We
wanted to raise
awareness to
Spiritism, get
the attention of
new people and
encourage the
study and debate
of the Doctrine.
We’ve then held
it every year in
February, to
mark the
anniversary of
our Spiritist
group. We have
daily lectures
and speeches for
a week. We get
quite busy, with
many people
attending,
including
brothers and
sisters from
other religious
faiths. The
event has
entered the
regional
calendar. As a
result of the
Spiritist Week,
many of those
who came to the
event for the
first time
joined our group
and became
regulars.
Are you able to
provide
comprehensive
assistance for
families at the
Spiritist
Centre?
When a man
falls, humankind
falls with him.
Hence, when a
man gets up
again and get
over his moral
flaws, moving
away from the
lowlands of his
ignorance to
search for the
light above,
humankind
recovers too.
The institutions
are gradually
renewed, there
is a sense of
unity and
fraternity
prevails. It is
a duty of all
volunteer
workers in our
group to receive
well and with
love all of
those who come
to us. We must
offer support in
times of trouble
and come up with
positive advice
and alternatives
to re-establish
the balance for
all. We
encourage the
practice of the
Gospel in the
Home, that
children learn
the Gospel,
study groups and
we keep an open
door policy to
the families who
come seeking for
help and advice.
If we stop to
think about our
incarnation, it
becomes obvious
that all begins
and ends in the
family. We must
preserve the
family as an
institution: it
is the true
workshop where
the affections
are renewed,
forgiving
becomes a
possibility,
characters are
improved and
hearts meet.
Your final
words, please…
We thank you for
the opportunity
of being useful
to others. I
would like to
mark the
occasion with
the words of
Emmanuel: “If
many are looking
closely at your
actions and
looking for your
weak points so
they can
criticise you,
bear in mind
that many others
are staring at
the way ahead
where you will
come up, guiding
them to the
crumbs of help
they so
desperately need
to survive. It
is quite clear
which group is
that in which
Jesus will be
waiting for
you.” Lots of
love to you all.
