Verônica Santos (photo), from the Brazilian city of Aracaju, in the state of Sergipe, is our guest this week. She has a degree in Literature and is a volunteer worker at the Grupo Espírita Irmão Fêgo (GEIF), a Spiritist Centre founded more than a century ago. She works there as a coordinator of the study groups, as she explains in the following interview.
When and how did you become a Spiritist?
My first contact with Spiritism happened in 2006, when I was heartbroken by the end of a relationship. I needed to seek spiritual treatment to get over it. I initially went to other Spiritist Centres until I found the Irmão Fêgo Spiritist Group, in the middle of 2008.
What do you like the most about Spiritism?
It’s the fact that Spiritism has such a straightforward, clear message, which enlightens us but, most of all, provides consolation to everyone.
Tell us a bit more about Grupo Espírita Irmão Fêgo.
GEIF is an organisation founded more than 100 years ago. It’s been 102 years of hard work and love, providing assistance to so many people, organising study groups, children’s groups and offering so many other activities and services.
The Irmão Fêgo has a very cosy and family-like atmosphere. What’s the secret of that?
We work as a team, more than anything. Those in posts of command at GEIF encourage all volunteers to do more and to get involved, which ends up creating a family-like atmosphere, to the point that we end up sharing our problems and joys in our spare time. GEIF is like an extension of our families and that makes all the difference. It’s difficult to point out which of all the activities we do here unites us the most. There are always lots of hugs, chats and displays of affection. But I think that nothing gets us together and united in the way that the GEIF Anniversary Seminar does. It's held every year in the month July. It’s just a big, beautiful party.
When did the Spiritist Group begin operating and who were its founders?
Our history begins in 1918, with a group of people who gathered to study Spiritism and observe the phenomena at the Tabocas Farm, in the town of Boquim, in the state of Sergipe. The property was owned by a Spanish man, Basílio Peralva, who arrived in Brazil at the age of 12, went to the state of Minas Gerais and later moved to Sergipe, where he founded a family group to study Spiritism. It was called Humildade (Humility) Spiritist Group. In 1925, he met Elfêgo Nazário Gomes, known as Irmão Fêgo, or Brother Fêgo, who had moved from Bahia to work in the garage of the local railway company. When Basílio Peralva passed away, on May 20th, 1931, Brother Fêgo replaced him as director of the Humility Group. On July 6th, 1937, Brother Fêgo passed away himself and was replaced by Livio Pereira da Silva, who officially registered the Group on October 14th and renamed it to pay tribute to Brother Fêgo. He passed away a few years later, in 1942. But GEIF has survived. Its current president is Renilson Lima and the vice-president is Luzy Mary Paixão.
What is your strongest memory from all these years in Spiritism?
Without any doubt, it was the first time I gave a Spiritist talk in 2012. After I seized that opportunity that was presented to me, many doors were opened.
Do you think the new circumstances created by the pandemic, forcing Spiritist Centres to hold all or most of their events online, has helped strengthen the Group?
Yes, absolutely. After all, everyone has continued to work hard in order to take a comforting message as well as information and knowledge to the public. That has allowed volunteer workers to develop and learn new skills. Also, the talks and lectures are available on demand in our channel and everyone is able to watch them again whenever they want. To give you an idea, ENCONFEGO, our anniversary seminar, was held virtually last July and the second day of the event was watched by more than 2,000 people on YouTube. Before the pandemic, we normally had about 500people attending the event in person.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
What I’ve said here shows only a glimpse of the big heart of the Fêgo Family. That’s why I say that those who meet this family will never forget it.