A living example of dedication to the evangelisation of children

Marli Neide Ciríaco (photo), is a retired teacher in the Brazilian city of Botucatu, in the state of São Paulo, where she joined the Caminho da Luz (Pathway to Light) Spiritist Centre in 1982. She is their director of Children and Young People Evangelisation, as she explains in the following interview. 

How did you begin your involvement with Spiritism? 

I believe I’m privileged for having been born into a Spiritist family. And I often thank God for that. From a very young age, I heard my father talking about the Teachings. And for many years I attended a Spiritist youth group in my hometown, Sorocaba. 

What attracts you the most to the Spiritist Teachings?

It’s the fact that it’s able to enlighten us and to provide answers to all our questions. I’m amazed by the quality of the work of Spiritist writers… Everytime I finish one of their books, I say: “My God, I really don’t know anything!”

And what does the Spiritist Movement mean to you?

It’s been a great learning opportunity. During the time I attended the youth groups, I took part in many meetings and events and I learned a lot from that. It was a very productive period and I always employed my common sense to be able to learn more. 

Where does your passion for the evangelisation of children and young people come from?

It’s interesting to remember now how it happened. The youth group I attended in Sorocaba, which was for teenagers and young people, had their activities just before the childrens’ evangelisation classes. When their classes ended, I used to watch the teachers in awe and also the children as they arrived. And sometimes I stayed on for their lessons. One day, when I was about 17 years old, one of their teachers broke a leg and couldn’t come in. The coordinator saw me there sitting in one of the classrooms, approached me and said: “Come on, let’s do some work.” Of course I came up with all sorts of excuses: that I had previous commitments, that I didn’t feel I was prepared to do it and that I didn’t know enough. But that didn’t stop her. And that’s where it all began for me.  

What progress have you noticed in this area over the years?

I can see clearly that there is a huge effort to help the evangelisation of children through Spiritist literature, with many authors dedicated to this field. I have also noticed that many teachers have made a concerted effort to retrain and to gather more skills and knowledge, by attending courses, talks and meetings that focus on children’s religious education. It’s not an easy job, but it’s the most gratifying one. 

What are the main challenges of the job, taking into account the technological development of so many children these days?

We must use all our imagination and creativity. In my classes, I use sulphite paper, colour pens, crayons etc. So when I tell them a story, one of the parables of the Gospel of Jesus, for example, I ask them to make drawings based on that. And they end up producing some amazing drawings, which even bring tears to our eyes…

In the past two years, in which the Spiritist Centre had to close its doors because of the pandemic, we taught them via Zoom and we used this as an opportunity to talk to them about the importance of technology – when it’s properly used and without excesses. 

Can you share that happened to you in the Spiritist Movement that has touched your heart in a special way?

Oh, there were many memorable experiences, but I will tell you one story: on Sunday mornings, we have at the Spiritist Centre our public talk and healing. Once, a man came in with a smile on his face and asked: “Don’t you remember me?” 

It took me a while but I eventually did. He was someone who had attended one of my evangelisation lessons between the ages of 6 and 11. As a boy, he was a bit short-tempered, but very clever. 

Well, he grew up into a wonderful adult, a true person of light. He graduated in Biology, built a family and became a volunteer worker at a Spiritist Centre in the city where he now lives. It was amazing to see Léo again after so many years. And he told me that he kept with him all along the lessons of Jesus Christ that I had taught in our evangelisation classes. When he said that, I couldn’t hold back the tears and neither could anyone else who was there. 

Based on your experience of so many years, what advice would you give to parents as we go through these challenging times?

I would tell them to trust in the work of the children and youth groups at Spiritist Centres. Formal education is, of course, very important. But moral education is also essential. That’s how children learn to respect all the beings created in the universe, where they learn the Laws of God and what values we need to become good people. That is essential if you want them to become truly happy adults. And those who teach in those groups are there to help the parents in this beautiful and honest process. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to quote Divaldo Franco when he spoke about the responsibility that  parents have towards the moral education of their children: “Parents always attend to the physical needs of their children: they take them to the doctor, to the dentist, to have their hair cut and to many other classes and activities, which is laudable. But when it comes to taking them to a Spiritist Centre, where they will learn about Jesus, other priorities always come up: there’s a match that clashes with that, or the child needs rest after a busy week etc etc.” That reminds me of the advice given by Our Master Jesus: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

And the Gospel According to Spiritism adds: “Remember that God will ask every mother and father: ‘What have you done with the child which was entrusted to you?’ If through any fault of yours it has remained backward, then as punishment you will have to watch it amongst the suffering Spirits, when it depended upon you to help it towards happiness.” (Chapter 14, item 9, St Augustin)

Let’s hope that when the day comes, our answer will be satisfactory, for those are sacred tasks, which often demand a lifetime of sacrifice and resignation.