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Leontina
Laurentino (photo),
a Spiritist
since she was a
teenager, is a
volunteer at the
Spiritist Centre
Apóstolo Paulo.
She’s a retired
teacher who now
works as a
volunteer
coordinating the
mediumship and
theoretical
departments of
the Spiritist
Centre. In this
interview, she
talks about the
Spiritist
Movement in her
hometown, Mogi
Mirim:
First of all,
tell us a bit
about Mogi Mirim,
where you were
born and brought
up.
It’s not far
from the state
capital, São
Paulo, place
between two
rivers and
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shining
constantly like
a precious
jewel, in the
words of the
great medium,
Chico Xavier, as
quoted in the
book “Entender Conversando.” |
Who was the
pioneer of
Spiritism in the
city?
It was Juca de
Andrade, who
opened the first
Spiritist Group
in the city back
in 1926.
And what is the
oldest Spiritist
Centre in the
city? How many
other groups are
there in Mogi
Mirim?
The Spiritist
Centre
Regenerador e
Caridade,
founded on May 3rd
1916, now
renamed as Jesus
e Caridade
(Jesus and
Charity), is the
oldest one. We
have a total of
10 Spiritist
Centres in the
city.
We know you have
a perfect
integration and
cooperation
among all the
Spiritist
institutions in
the city. How
did you achieve
that?
We tried at
every moment to
follow the
guidance of the
Gospel of Jesus,
which encourages
respect and
fraternity among
all.
What would you
say is the main
feature of the
Spiritist
Movement in Mogi
Mirim?
It is the
practice of
charity and love
to our
neighbours,
regardless of
who they are.
Tell us a story
or experience
that has become
an important
part of the
Spiritist
Movement in the
city.
There was a
debate with a
Catholic priest,
Nora. He’d just
arrived in the
city and began a
violent
defamation
campaign against
Spiritism in the
local media.
Juca, the
pioneer of
Spiritism in
Mogi Mirim,
refused to keep
quiet in the
face of so many
lies and false
accusations. He
began to respond
to the attacks,
point by point,
explaining the
true principles
of Spiritism,
but refraining
from getting
involved in
personal
attacks. Many
years later,
we’ve been
informed by our
Spiritual
Benefactors that
Father Nora,
already
disincarnated,
has been a
valuable and
enthusiastic
worker in the
Spiritual World.
How does the
local community
in Mogi Mirim
react to the
work carried out
by the
Spiritists?
There is respect
and trust. The
charity work
done by the
Spiritists in
the city enjoys
the support even
of those who
follow religions
opposed to
Spiritism.
Do you organise
regular book
fairs or do you
have a Spiritist
book club?
We have a
Spiritist book
club, but we
don’t have a
book fair, the
reason for that
being the
existence in the
main square of
Mogi Mirim of a
bookstand, that
sells Spiritist
books every day
of the week.
It’s like our
permanent,
on-going book
fair.
What would you
highlight from
your experience
as a Spiritist
speaker? And how
important is it
the visit of
other speakers
to the city, for
lectures and
seminars?
It is important
to invite guest
speakers to Mogi
Mirim, as we
have the
opportunity to
exchange
experiences and
make new
friends, which
is very
gratifying. But
of course it is
also an
opportunity to
continue to
learn and to
disseminate the
principles of
the Spiritist
Doctrine.
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