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The journalist from
Brazil’s northeastern
Paraíba state has lived
in the state capital,
João Pessoa, for 33
years. She became a
Spiritist in 1994.
Fátima is the author of
a book of interviews.
She is a member of the
board of directors of
the Spiritist Federation
of Paraíba, where she
has the post of deputy
Director of
Communication. In this
interview he talks about
the developments of the
Spiritist Movement in
Paraíba:
Please start by making
an assessment of the
development of Spiritism
in your region.
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Spiritism is growing in
the state. There’s a
quantitative growth,
but, more importantly, a
marked improvement in
quality. I believe one
reason for that has been
the long terms the
presidents of the local
Spiritist Federation
remains in charge. In
96, we had only seven
presidents. That has
provided continuity and
favoured the development
of the Spiritist
movement in the region.
It is an interesting and
eventful history.
There’s more on those
events and our
presidents on the
Federation’s website
www.fepb.org.br. |
What is the most
positive aspect of your
work in the
dissemination of
Spiritism?
It is the complete
absence of religious
prejudice by fellow
journalists, who open
the doors to me. They
are open not only to
broadcast and publish
the news on Spiritism
but are often in contact
with our newsroom,
asking question on the
teachings. I have never
faced any problems in my
work to disseminate
Spiritism. The message
of Spiritism is in fact
an easy one to sell, as
it always grabs the
attention of the
audience.
Tell us about the people
you have interviewed.
What’s been the impact
of those interviews?
I have interviewed the
great medium, Divaldo
Franco, many times. I
also highlight
interviews with the
French neurophysicist
Patrick Drouout,
reverend Nehemias Marien,
Catholic archbishop Dom
Aldo Pagotto, and
artists Nando Cordel and
Paulo Figueiredo, among
others. Well, many
people who missed the
interviews published on
the paper heard about it
and often came to ask
for a copy, based on the
impact of the articles.
When I saw that
happening more and more
regularly I decided to
make a compilation and
publish the interviews
in a book. They provide
the reader with
interesting observations
on science, philosophy,
religion, arts and
culture in general.
Which are the most
memorable stories
written by you?
The first one I would
like to highlight is a
story about the
Museum of the Souls in
Purgatory, in Rome.
The museum’s archive has
plenty of evidence of
communication by spirits
within the realm of the
Catholic Church. I
published the article in
newspaper O Norte
on a Sunday, 28th
October 2001. The
newspaper readers read
about it before the same
report went on air on
Brazil’s main Sunday
news and entertainment
television programme,
Fantástico. The
scoop was handed to me
by parapsychologist
Clóvis Nunes, who was
interviewed by the
programme and me.
Another story that means
a great deal to me and I
consider the most
important in my career
is an article about the
great Brazilian medium,
Chico Xavier. I had the
privilege of spending
Easter at his home in
2002, celebrating his
last birthday among us
incarnates. Three months
later, aged 92, he
passed away. That was
the big present I
received from a great
friend, Lisle Lucena,
who had become close to
Chico Xavier. I still
have goose bumps every
time I remember those
amazing days, sharing
those moments with such
an amazing source of
energy, a model of pure
Christianity. The report
in full is in my book.
How is your work with
the specialised
Spiritist media?
I have contributed with
many websites and
magazines. Recently I
began my own blog,
www.horizontes-fatimafarias.blogspot.com,
where my aim is to
discuss a number of
issues also focusing on
positive news and the
dissemination of
information leading to a
better quality of life
for all.
Tell us about the work
of the Spiritist
Federation of Paraíba?
There is great
excitement over projects
in every department of
the Federation: courses,
social work, mediumship,
development of children
and young Spiritists. We
have been successful in
the media, especially
with the success of
films with a Spiritist
theme in recent years.
But we have a project
that has had a great
impact. It is called
Disseminating
Immortality and it
focus on the period
around All Souls day,
with messages and
campaigns in cemeteries
across the state. In the
latest administration at
the Federation, under
the presidency of José
Raimundo de Lima, we
have seen a big growth
of Spiritism in Paraíba.
We are now in a new
building, with more room
to host events and
welcome a bigger
attendance. Our lecture
room can take more than
800 people.
Leave us with a final
message…
I believe I still have a
long way to go and a
great deal to learn.
Life is a perennial
learning process, so we
can work on our
imperfections. God is a
light and a source of
energy I’m looking for.
The message that says
the most to me is one by
Léon Denis: “Have
Universe as your temple,
conscience as your
altar, charity as your
law and God as your
image.” Finally, thank
you very much for
providing this
opportunity to change
roles and become the
interviewee.
