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Jamiro dos
Santos Filho (photo)
is known as a
Spiritist
lecturer and
author across
the country. He
was born in
Anápolis, in the
Brazilian state
of Goiás, but
has lived in
Araguari, in the
state of Minas
Gerais, for many
years. He is a
member of the
Spiritist Centre
he founded 25
years ago, under
the inspiration
and guidance of
the great
medium, Chico
Xavier.
When did you
have the idea of
opening the
Spiritist Centre
Nosso Lar?
In 1985, my wife
Luci and I
gathered every
week for the
Gospel in the
Home meeting.
Little by little
other family
members began to
join us, and
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eventually the
room was packed.
That’s when we
thought about
opening a Spiritist
Centre. In the
beginning of
1986, our
spiritual
benefactors sent
us a message
saying our
family had made
a commitment
before
reincarnating to
open a Spiritist
Centre. So,
after receiving
that revelation,
we opened the
Spiritist Centre
Nosso Lar, in
February 1986. |
Has it always
been in the same
address?
Yes. When we
opened the
Spiritist
Centre, it was
all a dream. We
didn’t have the
land. In
September 86,
the local
authorities
donated a plot
of land and we
began building.
The new building
was opened in
January 1987. It
was like a big
party for our
hearts.
Our address is
Rua Padre
Gusmão, 140,
Paraíso,
Araguari, Minas
Gerais.
How about the
idea of having a
school
functioning at
the same
address?
Jesus was
merciful enough
to allow me to
have regular
contact with
Chico Xavier. I
used to visit
him in the
company of some
friends at least
four to six
times a year. We
used to stay up
till the small
hours of the
day. In 94, I
told Chico that
we had been
donated a plot
of land and that
I was planning
to open a home
for the homeless
there. He looked
into my eyes,
held my hand and
told me that our
commitment was
to open a
school. I was
surprised, but
he insisted and
said the school
should function
in the same
building as the
Spiritist
Centre. That
would help break
a taboo against
Spiritism. So we
went ahead and
on October 3rd
1994, paying
tribute to Allan
Kardec, we
opened what has
become Colégio
Dom Bosco.
Is it like any
other school?
Yes, we go all
the way to year
nine and have
now 280
students. Chico
Xavier told us
at the time that
the school must
be a haven for
poor children
whenever
possible. So we
now have
low-income
pupils on
scholarships.
Our aim is to
expand our
activities to
other areas of
education. We
have a long way
ahead. We began
17 years ago and
know how much
else needs to be
done.
Are there any
Spiritist
activities at
the school?
We don’t have
necessarily
Spiritist
lessons. Chico
Xavier said that
the aim of the
school is to
teach Spiritism,
but to overcome
prejudice. He
said that the
children who go
through the
school might not
become
Spiritists, but
they won’t be
against the
Doctrine. Their
parents would
also develop a
different view
of Spiritism,
without
preconceived
ideas, and that
has been the
case.
How do you
combine the
activities of
the school and
the Spiritist
Centre, as they
share the same
physical space?
During the day,
the school takes
over the whole
area. In the
evening, we
carry out the
regular meetings
of the Spiritist
Centre, on
Mondays,
Tuesdays and
Thursdays. The
dental practice
is in the same
area and attends
low-income
families. We
assist on
average 100
people a month.
The pupils and
their parents
all become aware
of the charity
work we do and
realise that we
are helping
those who need
the most. The
patio and the
canteen, which
during weekdays
are used by the
students, become
a restaurant for
the homeless and
the poor on
Saturday. We
serve there
about 200
portions of soup
every week. As
you can see, the
school and the
Spiritist Centre
coexist very
well.
The 25th
anniversary
marked a big
achievement for
all of you. Tell
us about that.
There’s no doubt
that being able
to celebrate 25
years of
continuing work
was a big joy
for our hearts.
We are aware
that what we are
doing is a drop
in the ocean,
and yet we feel
gratified when
we look back and
see that for the
last 25 years
we’ve been
involved in a
work of love. We
celebrated the
anniversary with
a simple, down
to earth
ceremony, but
full of love and
fraternity. Some
of our friends
came to Araguari
to embrace us
and strengthen
our hearts so we
can carry on
with our job.
How important
was Chico Xavier
to the creation
of the
institution?
We can’t deny
Chico Xavier’s
huge influence,
not only in the
foundation of
the school, but
also in guiding
our steps and
encouraging us
to persevere. We
went back to him
a couple of
times after
opening the
school, when we
were facing some
difficult times.
We told him we
would have to
close down the
school. But on
both occasions
he said: “Carry
on a bit longer,
keep trying.”
And he added:
“We, Spiritists,
must prove that
we are able to
contribute to
the education of
the world, as
other religions
even have their
own
universities.”
So we carried
on. Chico’s
influence could
be perceived in
many other
activities of
our Centre. We
always tried to
incorporate his
mild approach,
typical of his
native Minas
Gerais, guide
our activities.
Tell us about
the human
promotion
activities you
have at the
school and the
Spiritist
Centre.
It is carried
out in
conjunction with
Spiritist Groups
across Brazil.
Our activities
are quite
straightforward.
We study the
Doctrine in open
meetings, we
read the Gospel
and we have
healing
sessions. We
also have
regular
theoretical
courses for
children,
teenagers and
adults. We also
carry out
charity and aid
work, providing
soup to those
who need, and
also blankets
and coats in the
winter. Part of
the school
income is spent
on scholarships
for pupils from
low-income
families. As
Chico Xavier
reminded us,
“the income from
the school must
be reinvested in
the school; any
extra income
should be used
to help poorer
children.” And
that has been
the way. We
would like to do
more, of course,
but we feel we
are doing what
we can.
What else would
you like to add?
We realise,
after 25 years
of activities at
the Spiritist
Centre and 17 at
the school, Dom
Bosco, that no
one does
anything alone.
It has been a
time of joy that
has made our
eyes shine. But
we were never
alone in our
job. How many
hearts made
themselves
available so
that we could
achieve what we
have achieved?
And how many are
still helping us
so that the work
of Jesus can
carry on? We
can’t quantify
the help we have
received to get
where we are. My
final words are
of gratitude to
all at Grupo
Nosso Lar. It’s
to them that I
deliver the
fruits of this
small work of
love.
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