Hugo, “Daddy” from Cambé,
is a 100 years old

Born on October 6, 1913, Hugo Gonçalves, founder and editor of "The Immortal" newspaper, is 100 years old today, lucid, lively and simple as ever.

Known and affectionately called in Cambé and in various cities from Paraná as the "Daddy" our friend has continued the task that started as a child, under the guidance of Cairbar Schutel, considered the fighter of Spiritism.

Like Cairbar, he not only preaches love and charity, but exercise them, radiating around him kindness and simplicity that characterize the elevated souls.

Son of Cândida and José Maria Gonçalves, Hugo was born in Matão-SP, with the town’s midwife, the pharmacist, friend of his parents - Cairbar de Souza Schutel - who suggested that the boy was called Victor Hugo, his favorite author. His mother liked the name Hugo, but not Victor, and so remained.

In adolescence, he had met who would be later his wife and companion, a young woman of Italian descent, named Dulce, whom he married on September 21, 1935, resulting from the marriage two children: Cairbar and Emanuel.

In 1947 the couple and their children moved to Paraná, where Hugo devoted himself to the profession of farms administrator until, in the middle of 1953, he settled down in Cambé, invited by Luiz Picinin, and started driving with Mrs. Dulce the Children's Home Marília Barbosa, an institution which had been founded months before, i.e., in March 1953.

With his residency in Cambé the Spiritist movement in the city and region has reached a new level.

In December of the same year, along with Luiz Picinin, he founded the newspaper "The Immortal", which has never ceased to be released, becoming since then a kind of eye-witness of the development of Paraná spiritual movement, especially in northern of Paraná.

Until the early 1960s the presence of the Spirit Federation of Paraná in the inner cities was just a dream. Due to numerous factors, including the lack of paved roads, the federation was limited primarily to the spiritual movement of Curitiba, State capital. It was when it started a major movement that would lead shortly after, the creation of Spiritist Regional Unions (SRUs), an achievement in which Hugo Gonçalves, alongside Picinin Luiz, Flávio Pasquinelli and several friends, had a decisive role.

Following the example of Cairbar, during his life, disclosed the spiritual doctrine by various means at his disposal: the newspaper, the Tribune, in meetings with spiritists leaders and workers, in personal service to all who came to him, and also through the radio, taking the spirit message to the most distant corners, not only in Paraná, but also in the state of São Paulo, his birthplace and where graduated to life.

Getting to 100 years old on this day with health and lucidity, our friend leaves us another lesson, namely, that it is possible, indeed, working hard, doing good and avoiding vices, reaching the condition of an accomplished Spirit, something that, according to André Luiz, is not very common on a planet like the Earth, in which much of the population ignores why come here and what are the goals of our presence in the world.

We are left, therefore, on this day when Hugo turns 100, but tell to the dear friend: - Congratulations! Thank you for your existence and God bless and protect you today and always!