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Andréa Pirotti da
Fontoura (photo) has
lived in the border city
of Uruguaiana for 14
years. She is linked to
two Spiritist groups in
the city and is also
member of directing
board of the Rio Grande
do Sul state Spiritist
Federation. She became a
Spiritist only 8 years
ago, but has never
looked back and has
become an enthusiastic
volunteer, involved in a
number of activities, as
she tells in this
interview:
Let’s start by talking
about Uruguaiana. Tell
us a bit more about the
city.
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It’s a border town,
located in a strategic
point for Brazil.
Uruguaiana is the
biggest dry port in
Latin America and the
main trade route in the
Mercosur. The economy of
the city is based on
services and
agriculture, with
important rice
production. The city has
130,000 inhabitants and
shares a border with the
Argentine city of Paso
de los Libres. The
Uruguayan border
is 70km away. |
How many Spiritist
groups are there in the
city?
Fifteen, or sixteen if
you take into account
the Spiritist Society
Caminando con Jesus,
which is in Paso de los
Libres, on the Argentine
side of the border, and
is attended and staffed
by a great number of
people from Uruguaiana.
The first Spiritist
group in the city –
Senda de Jesus – was
founded 84 years ago.
Who was the main name of
Spiritism in
Uruguaiana?
We don’t really have a
single name to
highlight. But
throughout the history
of Spiritism in the
city, Uruguaiana has
been well known for a
great number of
dedicated volunteers,
who have always been
very active in the
state’s Federation.
How does it feel to live
so close to the border
with two other countries
– an unusual experience
in such a large
country?
It is a very interesting
experience indeed, as
all the activities and
invitations for people
to come and speak, give
lectures, are planned
taking into account the
public from the three
countries.
How good is the
integration with fellow
Spiritists in the
region?
This border region is
really far away from the
state capital: 630 km
(about 400 miles). The
distance from the
capital brings the local
cities – Alegrete,
Itaqui, São Borja,
Quaraí and Uruguaiana –
together. We all get
together for planning
courses, training, study
groups and other major
activities in the
regions. The interest
and demand from all
parts is what really
counts.
What are the main
Spiritist events
gathering all those
cities in the border
zone?
Most of those cities are
some 100 km (about 60
miles) away from each
other. So when we have
guests in the region, we
try to make sure we put
in a collective bid and
organise trips to all
cities in the area. That
has led to a great
feeling of friendship
and solidarity with
other Spiritists across
the state of Rio Grande
do Sul. And it all
contributes towards
creating a stronger and
more efficient Spiritist
Movement in the region.
The state’s Spiritist
Federation (FERGS) also
plays a very important
role – and I’m being
very honest here. They
are far away, in the
state capital, Porto
Alegre, but we are
constantly in touch and,
as I mentioned before,
many of our volunteers
here in Uruguaiana are
also members of the
border of directors of
the Federation.
What do you think has
been the main
achievement of getting
well known Spiritist
speakers from other
parts of the country to
Uruguaiana?
We believe it’s
important to give access
to the word of some of
our best Spiritist
speakers to all of those
who cannot travel to the
capital and other major
cities. It’s a very
rewarding experience. In
those occasions, we
raise money through the
sale of books, we make
people aware of our
radio and television
programmes and, through
a high profile visit to
the city, we bring
Spiritism to the
attention of those who
don’t know it, a new
public. And as a result,
we end up having an
increase in the number
of people coming to
Spiritist centres in the
future, interested in
studying the teachings
codified by Allan
Kardec.
What are your major
plans for the future?
We need to work in order
to strengthen the
foundations of Spiritism,
through the
dissemination of the
teachings. We need to
give regional
organisations more
power, without
undermining the power of
the central Federation,
and we must try to
expand our database of
Spiritist speakers. Our
plans are to invite to
our region on a more
regular basis the
Spiritist speakers
willing to face the long
distances and
disseminate these
wonderful teachings.
Is there anything else
you would like to add?
After Jesus delivered
the Sermon of the
Mountain, he addressed
the apostles and told
them: “Go
to the entire world and
preach my Good News in
all creation.”
We cannot rest idle when
there are so many places
to visit, so many places
to take the teachings
to. Those involved in
the dissemination of
Spiritism have an
increasing
responsibility as there
are so many people out
there waiting to hear
edifying words. Let’s
aim at following the
path shown by Jesus when
he said: “sell your
possessions and give to
the poor and then follow
me.”
