Nélio Vicente Costa (photo), now retired as an officer for the Brazilian Army, has lived in Caruaru since 1967. He became a Spiritist in 1975 and soon after got engaged in the local Spiritist Movement, as an enthusiastic volunteer. Nélio Costa is the president of the Spiritist Centre Lar de Jesus (Home of Jesus) and, most of all, a charismatic leader, with plenty of energy and joviality, defying the preconceived ideas for his age:  Tells us about your history in the Spiritist Movement.

How many Spiritist groups are there in Caruaru? 

Ten at the moment. 

You are in charge of the Spiritist Month of Caruaru, known in Portuguese for its acronym, MESESC, which has been held for the 11^th time. Tell us a bit about the idea behind the event and its main goals. 

If I wasn’t a Spiritst, I would say it all began by chance. But as we know, there’s no such a thing as chance. One day I just had the inspiration, which apparently came out of nothing, and began to organise the event. It was all very straightforward and done in a very simple manner, as it’s still the case. We are lucky to rely on so many dedicated, selfless volunteers, like you, who stopped other important duties to come here and do this interview, helping disseminate the Spiritist Movement. Our aim is to disseminate the teachings. According to the great Spiritual Benefactor, Emmanuel, that is the best way of helping Spiritism, that’s the biggest charity of all involving Spiritism. 

Are there any regular Spiritist publications in Caruaru? 

We don’t have a Spiritist newspaper here. We have a monthly newsletter, however, called Caruaru Espírita. There are also two radio programmes broadcast in MW frequencies in the city. 

How is Spiritism seen by the local population in Caruaru? 

With respect, in the same way as other religions. 

Caruaru is a city known for its history and its cultural activities, which attract many tourists. What is the impact of that history in local Spiritism? 

I’m not sure whether the tourists are attracted to Spiritism when they visit the city. What I can say is that there is big demand and enthusiasm from the local people of Caruaru. 

It’s often said that time is a good teacher and eventually guides our actions. What are the main lessons and achievements in your life? 

Nothing makes me happier than seeing so clearly how our message fulfils its purpose, as explained by Allan Kardec: to boost the self-esteem and the levels of energy of those who arrive here in despair and even suicidal. Listening to the power message offered by the Spiritist teachings here, they change their minds and give up on the idea of taking their lives. 

This are in the state of Pernambuco, the agreste, between the coast and the dry inland, is of particular beauty. It certainly provides fertile ground for the work of the Spiritual Benefactors… 

Absolutely. Caruaru is a great city, but it’s not a big city. It has 315 thousand inhabitants. That means we have plenty of green in our city, where our dedicated Spiritual Benefactors find fertile ground to work for the benefit of all of us. 

Do the local Spiritists attend regularly to the meetings and events?

Yes, that’s something that really pleases us. Those who’ve become Spiritists are really committed and come to our meetings regularly. 

Do you offer regular theoretical courses? 

Yes, as far as I know all 10 Spiritist groups in the city have their study groups, including the official course organised by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB), known as ESDE (Systematic Study of the Spiritist Teachings). And in the neighbouring cities of Gravatá, Bezerros and others there’s also a strong Spiritist Movement, with their own groups. 

Perhaps the best-known person in Caruaru was mestre Vitalino, known as the World Icon of Figurative Arts. Has he left a legacy for the Spiritists of Caruaru? 

He was indeed as world icon, a world-class artist. He showed with his art, which he certainly learned in the Spiritual World, how important the arts are for all human beings. 

What would you say to all young Spiritists? 

Young people: don’t be fooled by all the misleading information around you. Study Spiritism and rest assured that you won’t need to wait for the day of your death in order to be happy. Your daily life will be an experience of eternal happiness.  

What is in your opinion the best way of providing for the children who are born in a world full of trouble and such abrupt changes? 

Oh! There are books and more books addressing that situation, messages and more messages from our Spiritual Benefactors, available to all of those who work with young people in the Spiritist Movement. But more important than anything else is our example to the young. The famous quote says that: “While words are taken away in the wind, good examples build and edify.” 

Experience is key to provide good leadership. What would you say to younger Spiritist leaders? 

I would like to remind them of the well-known Spiritist quotation: “Spiritists, love each other and educate yourselves.”  

What is your advice to make the Spiritist Movement more efficient and far reaching in Caruaru and elsewhere? 

I don’t have an answer to your question. The answer to that is something that goes beyond my capabilities. 

Thanks for this interview. Please leave us with your final thoughts. 

Honestly, my friend, thank you for the opportunity of giving you this interview. And I could only end with something said by the great leader, the biggest medium of all times, Chico Xavier, who quoted Jesus: “Brothers and sisters, love one another as I have loved you.” After coming across our sublime teachings and becoming a Spiritist, I often say: How good it is to be a Spiritist!