Pedro Narci Bouchet Neto (photo) is from the border city of São Borja, in Rio Grande do Sul state. He has a degree in Pedagogy, but makes his living as a businessman producing shoes. Mr Bouchet Neto became a Spiritist when he was 17. He works as a volunteer at a local Spiritist centre, of which he is the current president. He is also a

What is in your view the best way to reach the wider public with the beautiful message of Spiritism? 

We need to improve interaction with the wider community, we need to be united and we must aim for reaching people through open television channels. People are eager for good quality TV and all Spiritists, all the federations across the country should get together and pull the resources to broadcast a regular programme in prime time television. Later, we can aim at making it pay itself and create a Spiritist TV Network. It may sound as something unreachable, but we are doing our part here in São Borja, where in 2009 we set up a company to bid in 2010 for our own Spiritist TV channel. Our bid is moving forward. 

How did you manage that? 

We changed the way we saw things, we changed our approach, starting from each Spiritist Group. We trained our volunteer workers, we changed our working hours according to what the public wanted, we hired employees, we opened a modern, comfortable bookshop, we improved our facilities. In other words, a whole new approach. The Spiritual World would not direct a great number of people to us unless we were able to host them. 

Do you think we need to get wealthier people involved in Spiritism so they can help the message spread? 

We need to take the Spiritist Teachings to them in all its greatness. We don’t need to go with them asking for financial help when we are short of resources. We must introduce them to the Third Revelation of God. Spiritism has failed to receive in its bosom the businessmen, the entrepreneurs, the managers. They simply do not know the Teachings. They are often people with debts acquired in past lives who are born with the mission of working in management. They should be amongst us for their own benefit. And then they will lead the way and bring their expertise to the management of the Spiritist cause. 

Do you have a planned strategy to achieve that goal? 

We know all the planning comes from the Spiritual World, where it is designed years ahead of events. The benefactors who are planning the dissemination of Spiritism know they will have to rely on healers and public speakers, but also on the managers, the entrepreneurs. We are all part of a team. And now we need to prepare the infrastructure to deal with a greater number of people who will come to us. São Borja has a population of 63,000 people. We now have seven Spiritist Centres in the city and a total of 14 in the area. The expansion has taken place in each and every case with the financial support of a businessman. That is our planning, to prepare the facilities that will be needed in the coming years. But building and doing all the physical work is not everything. We have invested a great deal in the young people who work with us. We are aware that the work will need to go on and that we will come back in future incarnations and we will need to find everything in place and functioning. 

What do you think is the main priority for the Spiritist Movement? 

We need to give more visibility to the Spiritist institutions. We often hear that the Spiritist Centre is like a second home, but unfortunately we find out that many of those buildings and rooms lack proper care and maintenance. A well-maintained Spiritist Centre reflects the thoughts and priorities of that particular group of people and gets the respect and appreciation of the public. 

Is there a dedicated group working on that in the São Borja area? 

We have a group of volunteers who got together naturally and who are working on that. We built five buildings simultaneously. We got quotes from building companies and looked after the work. As a result, we work at the same time in various Spiritist Groups and provide assistance to those who are beginning or need specific advice. The benefits are clear, with a marked growth in the Spiritist Movement in the region. (1) 

What have been your biggest challenges? 

As incredible as it may seem, we have suffered from the jealousy and lack of understanding from other local Spiritist leaders about our idea to introduce Spiritism to those who are most able to help us – businessmen, managers etc. Kardec used to say that any attempt to innovate brings about much envy and persecution. I would say that the main problem is that many Spiritists don not read, do not study the Teachings. 

What else would you like to add? 

I would like to talk abou the Spiritist Therapeutic Community Chico Xavier, a farm where we treat men aged between 18 and 65 with substance abuse problems. We are innovating in the treatment. As well as following the 12-step approach we have Spiritist sessions with our patients every nights, study groups in which we introduce them to the Teachings. We also have psychotherapeutic groups, with the involvement of psychologists and social workers, and we use other tools, such as sports, music, Information Technology courses etc. We have excellent facilities, our work is praised by the government and we are a non-profit organisation. We are a community working together to deal with addiction, which is such a difficult hurdle to overcome.

(1) For more information on the issues mentioned in this interview you can visit the websites http://ferreirademoraes.blogspot.com/ e  http://fazenda.amigoespirita.com.br (both in Portuguese) or phone + 55 55 34215609 or 34319503.