Institution founded in 1919 is a landmark in the interior of São Paulo

Uriel de Almeida (photo) is a retired federal government tax collector in the Brazilian city of Bauru, in the state of São Paulo. He is the current president of the Amor e Caridade (Love and Charity) Spiritist Centre, or CEAC, which he joined in 1979. In this interview, he talks to us about the work carried out by CEAC and his experience in the Spiritist Movement: 

How did you become a Spiritist? 

I come from a Catholic family… I was an altar boy and helped others carry the processional litter in special religious events. But I could say that my life changed when I was hit by Cupid’s arrow in a magic 1968 afternoon. That’s when I met my wife (I was 14 and she was 13) at a dance hall in Itaquera, in the eastern outskirts of the city of São Paulo. We began dating a year later and I found out then that my future father-in-law was a great Spiritist worker at Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) Spiritist Centre, also in Itaquera. I was already reading The Gospel According to Spiritism hidden from my mother, but I couldn’t still fully grasp some of its main ideas. I attended an introduction course with my father-in-law, Peter, and that helped me a lot. We got married in 1976. By then we were already fully engaged in the Spiritist Movement and that hasn’t changed. To this day, we continue to attend mediumship meetings and to do volunteer work with different organisations. 

As someone who has worked as a volunteer at CEAC for decades, what would you like to tell us about the organisation? 

CEAC was founded on December 2nd, 1919, when Bauru had become an important rail hub. It was created to meet the social demands of the city and also its spiritual needs. The city grew fast and without proper planning, which led to serious social problems, such as extreme poverty, a big wealth gap, violence and the spread of disease (such as Spanish Flu, Hanseniasis and yellow fever). The institution had a wider spiritual approach, initially, but its members eventually decided to follow the principles of Spiritism and in 1925 it was renamed Amor e Caridade Spiritist Centre and it became a member of the Brazilian Spiritist Foundation (FEB).

What have you learned from the great Spiritist author, Richard Simonetti, at CEAC?

So many things… but mainly the importance of abiding by the principles of Spiritism. I was also impressed by his kindness and how he put into practice the principles of the Gospel until his last breath among us. He arrived at CEAC in 1956, at the age of 21, and left an important legacy here. With him, the organisation adhered strictly to the principles of the Spiritist Teachings. As a leader, he was a centralising figure, but he was always ready to compromise and he was an inspiring figure to so many volunteers. Richard oversaw the growth of CEAC, as a Spiritist and philanthropic organisation, and led us until his death in 2018.  

What are the challenges of managing such a big organisation, which operates in several units across the city?

Our social programmes help 1,100 people daily. We employ 140 people, at a cost of US$85,000 a month, and we also have nearly 500 volunteers working with us. There are 84 mediumship groups in our Spiritist Centre. Managing all that is a difficult job indeed and my main goal is to make sure that we carry on and are able to form new leaderships. To achieve that, we need to delegate responsibilities, encourage the participation of young volunteers and boost the number of members. A big challenge for us is the tensions between professional and volunteer workers, who don’t always have a friendly relationship.  

How do you coordinate CEAC’s various activities: the study groups, the philanthropic work and the publishing house?

The printing market in general is going through a serious crisis. We continue, however, with our efforts to fulfil one of the goals established in our charter through the CEAC Publishing House and Bookshop: to disseminate Spiritism remaining faithful to its core principles and without making a profit. The link between Spiritism and Philanthropy comes from the Gospel According to Spiritism, which says: Without charity there’s no salvation. 

And we must understand charity in its wider meaning, which goes beyond making material donations. Welcoming and advising our brothers and sisters who knock on CEAC’s doors seeking Spiritual guidance is also an act of charity. Without its philanthropic work, CEAC wouldn’t be what it is. And without the Spiritist Teachings, we wouldn’t have the incentive to do philanthropic work. 

What would you like to highlight from all your memories at CEAC?

The example given by my parents and my father-in-law, who encouraged me to engage in CEAC’s activities. Also, when walking through the streets of Bauru, so many times people come to me and say: “Uncle Uriel, don’t you recognise me?” And when we engage in a conversation I realise that those are men and women who’ve succeeded in life with the help of CEAC. That is a clear indication that we are doing something right. I’m also amazed, when I look at old documents and books, by how much our Spiritist Centre has grown and how many important Spiritist pioneers have worked with us. They defied the prejudices of the time against Spiritism and helped CEAC grow. I also have fond memories of the nights my teenage daughters and I spent working at our hostel. And I can see that they’ve taken what they learned there to the families they’ve now formed. 

What’s the best way of donating to help the institution?

We really need more volunteer workers. We would also welcome the donations of clothes, furniture and other items. For those wishing to donate money, the easiest way, in Brazil, is to use the PIX system.

And here are CEAC’s contacts: phone number, + 55 (14) 3366-3232; or our website, www.ceac.org.br (ouvidoria).