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Miguel de Jesus
Sardano:
“Our Mega Book
Fair is the
world’s biggest
book event
of its kind”
Our fellow
Spiritist from
the city of
Santo André, in
São Paulo state,
talks about the
beginnings of
the Mega Book
Fair and his
friendship with
the well-known
Spiritist
speaker Divaldo
Franco
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A Spiritist
since 1950,
Miguel de Jesus
Sardano (photo)
is the founder
and president of
the Spiritist
Centre Dr
Bezerra de
Menezes, in the
city of Santo
André. He also
works as a
volunteer at the
Children’s
Nursery Amélia
Rodrigues. He is
a retired lawyer
and university
lecturer. In
this interview
he talks about
the Mega Book
Fair of San-
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to André and his
friendship with Divaldo Franco:
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When were the
nursery and the
Spiritist Centre
founded?
The nursery was
founded on
November 11th
1986. The
Spiritist
Centre, on May
24th
1976. They work
independently.
The nursery
looks after 214
children aged
from 3 months to
10 years. It
began as a
department of
the Spiritist
Centre aimed at
meeting the
demand in the
Vila Guiomar
area of the
city.
What would you
like to share
with our readers
about the Mega
Book Fair?
The first fair
happened in 1994
and it was named
Spiritist Book
Fair Chico
Xavier. We had
no plans of
organising other
book fairs, but
the result was
so amazing that
we decided to
carry on. The
number of books
sold went up
every year,
reaching up to
30,000 books
sold on a
Sunday. We then
decided to add
an extra day and
hold the event
on Saturday and
Sunday, from 9am
to 5pm. We get 4
to 5,000
visitors per
event and sell
about 40,000
books every
year. It is the
biggest book
fair of its
kind.
Tell us about
your friendship
with Divaldo
Franco.
In February 1965
I was elected
president of the
Third Gathering
of Spiritist
Youths in the
Centre-South of
São Paulo State.
The event was
held in Santo
André, gathering
some 300 young
men and women.
Divaldo Franco
was one of the
guest speakers.
In 1966, I drove
him to other
cities in the
state for
another edition
of the same
youth event. I
visited his
charity home,
Mansão do
Caminho, in
Bahia, for the
first time in
1970. I would
return many more
times. By then I
had made a
commitment to
help Divaldo in
his charity
work. São Paulo,
then, was where
you could find
anything you
needed. And
Divaldo needed
building
materials for
Mansão do
Caminho. I
became his
contact here,
helping to get
what he needed
for a better
price. He began
to stay with my
wife, Terezinha,
and me whenever
he came to São
Paulo. That is
when I took on
the job of
setting up a
bookstand when
he came to give
a talk. I am
still engaged in
that job every
year, alongside
a team of 10
volunteers.
What is the most
remarkable
experience of
all these years
with Divaldo?
There are so
many memories,
but there is one
that really
touched my
heart. We were
talking once
about our
friendship and
he revealed that
the plan from
the Spiritual
Benefactors was
for us to be
born as blood
brothers. But
his mother was
already over 40
when he was
born, in 1927,
and I was born 6
years later, in
1933. That
revelation
filled my soul
with happiness.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
I would like to
say that those
in power in
Brazil have not
as yet realised
the importance
of making sure
children get the
best care, as
they are the
future citizens
of this country.
The funds the
government
allocates for
childcare are
far from enough
and do not meet
all their needs.
There is too
much bureaucracy
and demands from
NGOs. We have to
spend a lot of
time and energy
to raise the
funds we need,
through fund
raising
campaigns and
other events.
Your final
words…
I have words of
gratitude to
Divaldo Franco,
who has always
encouraged my
work, guiding me
in every step
and giving me
all the support
needed. We owe a
lot to Divaldo,
who has been for
so many years
the “big dad”
full of love,
giving us
security and
love.
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