Mauro Karl (photo) was born into a Spiritist family in the city of Petropolis, where he acts as a coordinator of events gathering young people in the region. In this interview, he talks about one of the main such events, known by its acronym COMEERJ – a gathering of Youth Spiritist Groups from Rio de Janeiro state.

Divine Providence allowed me the opportunity of being born into a Spiritist family. I was brought up with Spiritism from a very young age and naturally got engaged in Youth Movements. The seeds planted through this incarnation bore fruit and I found in the Gospel According to Spiritism the path of my life. It provided me with the tools needed for self-enlightenment, which drove me towards working with young people, helping find the Teachings as I did. I began working at Uniao Municipal Espirita de Petropolis at a young age and I am still there, helping organising local events for young Spiritists. 

What is COMEERJ and how it began? 

It all began with a group of enthusiastic and dedicated Spiritists who travelled the country in the 1970s and took part in youth gathering in other Brazilian states. Our first meeting in Rio de Janeiro state took place in 1978. COMEERJ is an opportunity to experience, as much as we can at this stage, how life will be in the next phase of development of the planet, known as Regeneration. Young people meet during the carnival holidays (which are hugely popular in Brazil) following five basic principles: fellowship, spirituality, the construction of good on Earth, disseminating Spiritism and investing in human resources. Young people who have attended regularly Spiritist groups for at least two years are allowed to join for the four-day period. We usually meet, sleep, study and eat in state school buildings empty during the holidays. 

Getting 200 young men and women locked up during the four days of carnival is quite a challenge? Why on Earth do they go back the year after? 

That is a question we often hear from friends and relatives. Everyone else is getting ready to travel for the holidays and have fun, while we are getting together for the event. We sleep on mattresses on the floor, eat at the canteen, queue up for showers and study most of the day. It is difficult to persuade those who have never taken part to join us, but I always say that it is such an amazing experience, better than anything else you will do during the year. I often tell young people: make sure you take part of a COMEERJ at least once in your lifetime. The emotions and experiences you live there will stay with you forever. 

What is the difference, from an educational point of view, between this event and other religious gatherings for young people? 

I believe the difference here is the opportunity to actually live the Gospel teachings, training for life in the world of the future, the regenerated planet. We are given four days to get rid of our insensibility, egocentric feelings and to find a true brother in those sitting next to us, whatever his social background. We learn to deal with our feelings together, we laugh and cry together. To reach this goal, COMEERJ workers have freedom to choose the activities they will take to the group. One of the tools commonly used is the arts. We see young people as a Spirit who has been through many incarnations and is rich in experiences. As such, they are encouraged to take an active part in the process. 

How do you combine discipline and freedom in a four-day-long gathering of more than 200 young people? It is a huge responsibility, no? 

Yes, it is a huge responsibility. The parents are fully aware of the challenges of educating and giving discipline to their children. You imagine that with such a large group. Young people must understand that our meetings are not summer clubs. We have clear objectives, agreed with the Spiritual Benefactors of whom we are humble good will workers. The coordinators at COMEERJ meetings have a duty to keep order and discipline, making sure everyone follow the guidelines agreed – modest dressing, no swearing, timekeeping and punctuality etc. That way we also help develop discipline and responsibility among the young men and women attending the event. All that is done without supressing their liberty, based on mutual respect, in an exercise of Christian citizenship. 

Can you say that young Spiritist who go to those meetings develop into a different Spiritist adult? 

Absolutely!  

How does the Spiritual World, the Benefactors, influence and manifest during COMEERJ meetings? 

We can feel their influence in the planning stages, in all the intuition and inspiration we get, when similar or complimentary ideas come up to different people and are then put together to make up a whole piece. We also feel their help when we face problems and challenges. And in many situations they appear in a more ostensive manner, in our dreams and in messages during our mediumship meetings. We do not feel abandoned at any stage of the event. All this evidence also reminds us that we are not really in charge of the process; Our Lord Jesus Christ is in fact the one in charge. 

Finally, what advice do you give to those working in the evangelisation of young people in the Spiritist Movement? 

That we all continue to work and to improve to fulfil the promise of evangelise Brazil, a country that has been given a special place and role, where the tree of Christ’s Gospel should bear fruits for the whole planet. Yes, we do believe in the relevance of special events such as COMEERJ, but we should pay full attention to the work with young people in Spiritist Centres on a regular basis. Young people must be given the opportunity to join the path of good, they must be aware that they are our future, here and now, as the great Benefactor Dr Bezerra de Menezes keeps reminding us.