The Léon Denis
Spiritist
Centre, founded
in 1916, is
celebrating now
its centenary.
How would you
sum up the
importance of
the
organization?
That it is
fulfilling its
role as a
Spiritist
organization by
taking our
consoling
Teachings to so
many brothers
and sisters. In
each phase of
its existence it
has dealt with
the most urgent
issues of the
time. In the
beginning of the
19th
Century it
focused on
spiritual
healing. In
other periods,
it provided the
study of the
Gospel and
Spiritism, when
the population
of the town was
most in need of
that. If we look
back at the
history of our
organization, we
realize how
important a role
great anonymous
Spiritists
played. That was
the case of
Maria Rita da
Silva, who had
the
determination
and faith to
build the
Spiritist Centre
in a rural area
of the town,
evading the
religious
intolerance of
the time. With
that, she
managed to
enlighten some
50 people every
week.
What are the
main activities
of the
organization?
It is to teach
Spiritism. That
should be the
main priority of
all Spiritist
Centres. We have
study groups
three times a
week, focusing
on the core
works of Allan
Kardec. We are a
small
organization,
but we have
daily regular
activities,
including
healing,
fraternal
assistance (or
counseling),
mediunimic
groups, courses,
seminars and a
weekly Spiritist
radio
programme.
What would you
like to
highlight from
Léon Denis’s 100
years of
history?
The fight
carried out by
the founders, in
the early 1900s,
and especially
the fact that
the founder was
a woman, which
was very unusual
at the time. I
must also
highlight the
fact that those
who attended the
meetings at that
time were really
determined, as
the Spiritist
Centre is
located in a
remote rural
area. And I must
say that it
enjoys great
backing from the
Spiritual
Benefactors.
The great
pioneer of
Spiritism in
Brazil,
Herculano Pires,
was born in
Avaré. What is
the influence of
this great name
in the history
of Spiritism in
the town?
The Spiritist
newsstand in the
city centre is
named after him
and his name is
quoted often in
study groups,
talks and
lectures. But I
must say that
unfortunately
the study of his
works is not
common in
Spiritist
organisations.
That is, by the
way, a project
we intend to
develop at our
Spiritist Centre
next year,
during the
second regional
meeting.
How do
Spiritists in
the area feel
about the
centenary
celebrations?
They are living
this experience
with great joy
and enthusiasm.
Everyone
realizes how
much our
Spiritist Centre
has helped and
will continue to
help all of us.
Each volunteer
worker plays an
important role
in the
dissemination of
the event and in
the effort to
build a group of
people who
follow to the
core the
principles of
Jesus and of
Spiritism.
What are you
planning to do
to mark the
occasion?
We are expecting
this to be an
opportunity to
get the
Spiritist
Centres and all
Spiritists in
the region
together, in an
atmosphere of
friendship. But
most of all we
see this is a
great
opportunity to
thank the
Benefactors in
the Spirit World
for everything
that they have
done for us. Our
event will take
place on 19 June
2016, a Sunday,
at the building
of the Colônia
Espírita
Fraternidade
Spiritist
Centre. And we
are planning a
second regional
meeting for
2017.
The mere fact
that you have
agreed to have
the centenary
celebrations
hosted by
another
Spiritist Centre
shows that you
are really
determined to
promote the
integration of
all Groups in
the city. Tell
us more about
that.
Absolutely. That
is something we
have envisaged
for a while. We
are united by
that goal and in
our first
meeting to
discuss the
celebrations we
could all feel
the spiritual
harmony in the
ambient. We will
have a week of
talks in our
Group, Léon
Denis, from 12
to 18 June, with
guests from
other Groups,
and that will
certainly
encourage the
harmony between
the various
organisations
and strengthen
ties.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
I would just
like to thank
you for this
opportunity. I
am very happy
with the work
carried out by
our brothers and
sisters in the
Spiritist
Movement –
incarnate and
discarnate
spiritis – in
the preparations
for the
centenary
celebrations. It
is clearer and
clearer to me
that when our
goals are guided
towards the
light,
everything
conspires in
favour and that
each and every
worker in our
Spiritist Centre
has a part to
play in keeping
that light,
which is Divine,
shining. Thanks
to everyone who
has helped in
the work and in
the
dissemination of
the event.
I would like to
leave you with
the appropriate
words by
Herculano Pires:
“Spiritism has
not created
churches, it
does not need
sumptuous
temples. It does
not have
rituals, it does
not give
blessings to
anyone, it does
not promise
anyone a place
in heaven and it
does not give
titles or
honours to
anyone. (…) Its
only goal is to
enlighten,
educate, guide
and show the way
to human
authenticity and
the spiritual
truth of men and
women.” (From
the book
Curso Dinâmico
de Espirismo,
page 30.)