Teltz, who also
performs several
doctrinal
activities in
the South of the
country, as
Spiritist
lecturer, talks
to the magazine
O Consolador
about his
current
activities and
the Spiritist
movements in Rio
Grande do Sul.
O Consolador:
What is your
role in the
Spiritist
shelter Oscar
José Pithan, in
Santa Maria
(RS), a
well-known
institution in
Brazil?
I have been a
collaborator,
and as I
understand a bit
of the Gospel
and the Doctrine
I help myself
helping
others.
O Consolador:
How did the
Spiritist
shelter Oscar
José Pithan
started? When
was it
established and
who did it?
The shelter was
established by a
group of
pioneers in the
Doctrine of our
city, led by our
brother Benjamin
Carvalho Coelho,
now deceased,
and other 16
partners. The
Institution was
settled on
August 28th,
1949 and its
address has
always been the
same: 413
Silvio Romero
street, – in
Santa Maria
(RS).
O Consolador:
What activities
from the shelter
can, besides the
regular ones
exercised by any
Spiritist Centre,
be pointed out
in this
interview?
Our activities –
besides all
those concerning
a
well-structured
Spiritist Centre
– consist in
providing full
assistance –
living, food,
clothing,
medical and
dental care,
among others –
for 56 needy
elderly, of both
genders,
assisting them
in a Christian
way until the
end of their
earthly journey.
O Consolador:
How many workers
and volunteers
do you have in
the institution
and where do you
get resources
for its
maintenance?
We have today 12
workers. As for
the volunteers,
we have around
50 working in
the shelter, in
the most diverse
areas and also
as cooperators
or workers of
the departments
in the Spiritist
Centre. The
resources are
obtained from
many places:
social monthly
fees; agreement
with City Hall (MPAS);
agreement with
the Lar
Fabiano de
Cristo;
income from
residing
dwellers; many
donations such
as money and
other materials
of the society;
resources from
small projects,
among others.
O Consolador:
What is the
response and
repercussion of
the social
actions in the
shelter that you
might point out?
As Spiritist,
the great reward
we receive is
the joy to serve
others
disinterestedly,
like Jesus had
taught us. As
for the possible
repercussions of
our social work,
we judge that
the community we
are in can speak
better of these
nearly sixty
years looking to
contribute with
our small share.
In relation to
the Spiritist
Centre, we
rejoice to
spread the
Doctrine in its
three aspects –
as a science,
philosophy and
religion –, as
we were
presented by
Allan Kardec.
O Consolador: A
typical event in
the shelter is
the Spiritist
Month Oscar José
Pithan,
happening for 18
years. Talk
about this
activity and
tell us how you
get resources to
enable the
visits of
lecturers from
many states?
The Spiritist
Month Oscar José
Pithan was
certainly
created under
Superior
inspiration, in
the year of
1988. In this
year of 2008 we
are preparing
our 19th Month.
It was basically
a way to
celebrate the
anniversary of
our shelter,
which happens
every August.
The resources to
bring the
lecturers we get
from small
contributions of
our confreres,
promotions,
resources from
our own and
small
contributions of
other places,
when the
lecturer who is
coming is able
to visit other
cities.
O Consolador:
How have you
faced
controversial
topics that are
going on in the
Spiritist
movement?
We have been
careful dealing
with
controversial
topics, as we
have studied in
our beloved
Doctrine. When
we talk about
them, in public,
it is with the
intent of
clarifying the
doctrinal
position about
the subject and,
as much as we
can help to
avoid any sort
of distortions,
disturbing the
march of the
Comforter.
O Consolador:
And these
controversial
topics, have
they been
discussed in the
studies inside
the shelter?
Whenever it is
necessary, we
have discussions
in our study
groups, as long
as it is
effectively
important to our
social living.
As the Doctrine
casts light over
all the
questions, we
conclude that
all human
problems can be
solved if we
apply the Gospel
of Christ in our
lives, be it
individual or in
a community.
O Consolador:
Does the
institution have
site on the
internet? What
is its main
content and how
is it
maintained?
Our shelter can
be accessed on
