Marina Gevartosky Torrezan (photo), is a psychologist and a retired public sector worker in the Brazilian city of Piracicaba, in the state of São Paulo. She works as an occupational therapist and is engaged in the local Spiritist Movement. She is the current vice-president of one of the oldest Spiritist Centres in the state: Fora da Caridade Não Há Salvação (Outside Charity There’s No Salvation), which was founded on March 25th, 1906. Among its founders was the remarkable Spiritist pioneer Pedro de Camargo, who is widely known as Vinicius. 

Could you briefly tell us your story in Spiritism?

It began when I was only one month old and my mother showed symptoms of what was denominated then a “nervous breakdown,” for which no medical treatment worked. One day, after several frustrated attempts at a cure, she felt a strong urge to go into a Spiritist Centre which she walked by very often. And that day she was told that her health issues were the result of the constant presence of a deceased uncle with her. All he was asking for was for a mass to be prayed for him. She organised that for the day after and from then on my mother improved and became a devout Spiritist. So, I was brought up into a Spiritist family. I can say now that my life would have been very different hadn’t I had the privilege of living with these beautiful and liberating Spiritist Teachings. 

When and how did you get involved with the Fora da Caridade Não Há Salvação Spiritist Group?

After getting married, my husband and I moved to Italy, where we lived for six years. When I came back to Piracicaba, at the end of 1995, with three young children, we had to find a Spiritist Centre with flexible hours that enabled us to combine our volunteer work there with childcare. That’s how I chose the FCNHS and I’ve never looked back.  

That is the oldest Spiritist Group in the city. Tell us a bit more about its early days. 

Yes, it’s indeed the oldest Spiritist Centre in the city, founded more than 100 years ago, on March 25th, 1906, by João Leão Pitta. He was a Portuguese man from Madeira who came to Piracicaba after spending some time in Rio de Janeiro, where he had his early contacts with Spiritism. He and some of his friends began gathering in their homes in Piracicaba, attracted by the opportunity to “talk to dead relatives.” One day, they received a message from a Spiritual Benefactor who suggested that they set up an organisation where all the city’s Spiritist Groups could meet and carry out their activities. Among those pioneers were Eugênia da Silva, who became known as the mother of the poor in the city, and our dear Pedro de Camargo, or Vinicius, as he became known across the Spiritist Movement. 

What would you like to highlight from the long history of this organisation?

Much of the history of our Group has taught us that even in times of trouble when we went through all sorts of problems we were able to overcome our limitations and always found a way forward. That’s the reason why we have reincarnated here. We must be humble to confront our imperfections and we must show good will to continue learning. After all, our illustrious founders set a very good example for us!

At the time, there was strong prejudice against Spiritism in Brazil. Do you have reports of persecution or aggressive behaviour against members of the Spiritist Centre?

Yes, of course. But there was a very interesting fact that happened once and must also be remembered. One day, a young man got up at the end of the evening’s talk at the Spiritist Group and introduced himself as the local police chief. He said he had come in order to find out what was going on in that location, as he had heard rumours of “strange” things happening there. But he said that he hadn’t seen anything wrong or strange at the Spiritist Centre and wished everyone success! It’s interesting to notice that people had no idea of what was really happening inside a Spiritist Centre and even lacked the words to describe properly what the supposed threat was. 

What would you say, from your time there, is the strongest point of the FCNHS Spiritist Group?

I think it’s the attention and the focus that everyone there has dedicated to the study of the Spiritist Teachings and the importance given to remaining faithful to their core values. And also the priority given to the Spiritist education of children and young people. That is something that reminds of Vinicius, who really valued good education! Our records, which include pictures of the time, show that 80 children regularly attended the activities of the youth groups of his days. That’s remarkable, when we take into account the climate of intimidation against Spiritism at the time. 

From your personal experience in Spiritism, is there anything in particular that touches your heart?

It is clear to me that all of those who don’t yet know the true meaning of divine justice, as introduced by Spiritism, continue to live with the feeling that they are victims and their lives are often unfair. They don’t have access to the blessed comforting explanations that we do! To know the Natural Laws and how they operate and impact on our lives is such an amazing blessing that we are not yet able to properly assess it. 

What does it mean for the current group of directors and people who attend the Spiritist Centre the fact that the great Vinicius is among its illustrious founders?

It’s a great honour for everyone and we make a concerted effort to keep his memory alive, to study his books and to continue telling his story.