Hugo Gonçalves:
“Charity is only
for real if made
with love.
Otherwise, it is
not truthful”
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Hugo Gonçalves (picture)
is the founder
and director of
the newspaper
O Imortal,
from Cambé (PR,
Brazil). This
newspaper has
just completed
55 years of
existence in
December last
year. He is also
the Director of
the nursery
Lar Infantil
Marília Barbosa,
which completed
56 years of
existence last
March. Hugo is
95 years old,
and has been a
great example
for us all in
the spiritist
movement.
He is working
actively even
today. He was
Cairbar
Schutel’s
disciple in
Matão (SP,
Brazil) since
the first
moments of his
existence. It was from Cairbar
that
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who taught
him the about
spirituality
since his early
years. He
narrates his
experience here
underneath: |
“Mr Schutel was
a well
established
pharmacist who
possesed deep
general
knowledge and
was deared to
everyone in
Matão-SP. He
would look after
patients in the
countryside, if
needed, at any
time. When my
mom was about to
deliver me, Mr.
Schutel was
called to help
since the
midwife was
struggling. He
was the one who
gave me the
first tap in the
back. He
suggested to
give me the name
Victor Hugo, but
my mother
prefered Hugo
only. This
happened on the
6th October
1913.”
Please find his
interview:
– How did you
start getting
involved with
Spiritism?
I started
getting involved
with Spiritism
by the time I
was born. Mr.
Cairbar Schutel
was the one who
delivered me to
this world.
Cairbar Schutel
was the pioneer
for the
Spiritist
Doctrine in
Matão, São
Paulo.
– What is the
importance of
Spiritism for
families?
The Spiritist
Doctrine
orientes, calms,
clarifies. It
unites the
family and
strenghtens the
family nucleus.
– Allan Kardec
wrote: “Without
charity there is
no salvation”.
What is your
opinion in
regards to this
sentence?
The sentence is
correct. There
is no other way
since money does
not save anyone,
status does not
save anyone, nor
other factors
which seem to be
extremely
important in the
material world.
There is a book
that says
pain and love
will save souls.
We need to have
both. If we only
had love,
everything would
be so easu but
then we wouldn’t
need to have the
feeling of
strength to face
life. Men need
to be conducted
through pain
nowadays for him
to awake and
strength the
love that will
take him towards
charity and then
salvation.
– How could
charity be
applied?
It should be
applied with
love, since
without love
charity is only
apparent. When
this feeling is
around, charity
is pure. If
there isn’t love
around, charity
becomes a way to
show we are
superior to
something/someone
else. We need to
learn to love.
Love just as
Jesus loved.
– Who do you
think has been
the biggest
example in the
practice of
charity?
To me, Mr.
Cairbar Schutel
has been the
biggest example
in the practice
of charity. As
Kardec said,
“the biggest
charity we can
do to the
Spiritist
Doctrine is to
publicize it
reaching the
entire society”.
Cairbar Schutel
had a simple
life, and was a
great example
for us to follow
in terms of
simplicity.
– What would you
like to say to
those who are
indisciplined
with their
thoughts?
Please remember
with respect and
care the
observations we
received from
The Spirit of
Truth:
Spiritists! Love
one another …
and educate
yourselves.” We
need to follow
this concept if
we want to reach
the spiritual
happiness we all
aim for.
– We have
noticed in some
spiritist
centres that
people withdraw
from activities
due to issues
with other
members. How
should the
spiritist
leaders deal
with cases like
these?
The leaders
should not worry
about these
issues but try
to bring the
member closer to
the centre,
without talking
about it. The
leader should
never criticise
the individual,
but give him
another
opportunity to
work with other
members in the
centre. This
should be doen
with care, love,
and resignation.
Let’s remember
only love can
constroy; not
destroy.
– What do you
believe to be
the most
important
activity in the
spiritist
centre?
They are all
important, since
it is a team of
strength, energy
and stability.
It is the
team-work that
is needed to be
able to well
execute the
tasks of the
centre. We
should never
believe one is
the most
important. They
are all equally
important.
– What do you
think about the
work in the
spiritist centre
for the
education of
Children and
Youth? Is this
task important?
Yes, it it an
important task,
and we have seen
so many
extraordinary
cases. We need
to study and try
to find out what
are the best
methods to work
on the different
departments
within the
centre. Let’s
treat Children
and Youth with
care and respect.
They are our
future, and the
education needs
to start right
from birth.
– You have been
managing the
Lar Infantil
Marília Barbosa,
who always
looked after
children. What
would you say is
an aspect of
your success in
this task?
I believe it to
be persistancy.
It is imporant
to start a task
and always look
for ways to
improve it.
Otherwise, it
does not produce
results.
– Besides
working with
children in the
spiritist
centre, what
else is
developed within
the institution?
We are not just
restricted to
educating
children in the
centre. Even if
we were, it
would still be a
great
achievement
since we are
preparing the
adults of the
future
generation.
– Some people
say that, since
Chico Xavier
disincarnated,
his menthor
Emmanuel should
be reincarnating
soon. What do
you think about
this
affirmation?
I believe we
should not lack
in Earth
reincarnated
spirits like
Chico Xavier and
Emmanuel. They
bring us the
sense of
security and
assurance of the
imortality of
the soul. These
superior spirits
came over here
to make us aware
of the reality
of life. They
invite us to
work towards the
Doctrine. We
have received
the information
that spirits who
are in the same
or a higher
level than them
are
reincarnating in
the planet. The
reason for them
to be coming is
for the
progressiion to
keep happening,
with dedication
and effort.
– You, better
than anyone else,
has got to know
Mrs. Dulce
Gonçalves. What
message would
she like to give
her sons,
grandsons and
relatives?
To love and
respect each
other. We all
need to unite so
that the familty
can work
together towards
those in need,
since this is
what she always
wished for.
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