The young and dynamic president of the Spiritist Union of Ijuí, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Richard Ricardo Suarez Rodriguez (photo), is a technician in telecommunications. He was born near the border of Uruguay, in Santana do Livramento, as has travelled around the state to study and work. In this interview, he tells us how he came into contact

How did you become a Spiritist?

I had some sporadic contact with the Teachings when I was a teenager, through family members and friends. I had access to Spiritist books and went sometimes to a local Spiritist Centre, mostly for healing, without making much of what it meant. But things changed when I went away from home for the first time and had a Spanish translation of The Spirits’ Book with me, in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1998. I read some of the questions and stopped, but that stayed with me. Years later, as an adult and already working, again away from home, I received a present from my then girlfriend, now my wife. She was already a Spiritist. She gave me The Gospel According to Spiritism, where I found important lessons. But I was not as yet readyfor the realities of spiritual life. When I was transferred to the state capital, Porto Alegre, I decided to look for a religion that met my demands, that answered my questions about the real meaning of life. I found in Spiritism the haven I needed. But it was only later, already married and working in the city of Santo Angelo that we began, as a family, to carry out a serious and systematic study of the Teachings. We now live in the nearby city of Ijuí,  where with God’s grace we continue working in this blessed field. 

Tell us a bit more about your involvement in the Spiritist Movement.

It took place in a natural and progressive manner. As I continue to take part in a study group, I felt the need to share the knowledge I had acquired. I requested and was allowed, as a real compliment, really, to look after our Youth Evangelisation department. After a year, and still insecure, I asked to pull out. But one of the directors asked me to carry on for another year working with the young. I then realised how important that task was and has continued since working in the evangelisation of young people. Later I became the president of the Spiritist Union of Ijuí. 

What is the main guideline of your administration at the Ijuí Spiritist Union?

Unification! That is the word that comes up before anything else. To achieve that, we need to establish open dialogue, continuing hard work and the collaboration of everyone. Our Spiritist Union has provided the support to the individual groups whenever needed, meeting their requests, guiding them and encouraging the exchange of information and tasks among them. 

You also have a Book Club. Tell us about that.

Yes, it has been a very rewarding task. The Book Club is a tool that offers a number of possibilities, including the dissemination of the Teachings and the possibility of getting into the homes of many of our brothers and sisters, who will be able to carry on their studies beyond their Spiritist Centres. It is great to see the smile on the faces of those, particularly the children, who receive their monthly gook. The Book Club also helps us cover our costs. Last November we replaced the roof of the Union’s headquarters with the money raised from book sales. 

What is your assessment of the level of spiritual awareness of Brazilian people?

Our spiritual awareness is an important asset to be developed further. We need indeed to make an honest assessment of where we are at the moment. Spiritism is now present in all the different media – not only the traditional newspapers, TV and radio, but also the Internet, blogs, specialised magazines, the cinema, theatre, music, ebooks etc. I believe the prospects offered for the awakening of our consciences is huge and inexorable, just a matter of time. That is something we observe in our conversations with the young. There are still many pitfalls, but we can only see them because we have the light around us. 

Do you encourage young people to hear and produce Spiritist music. Why?

Young people and music are synonyms, in the same way that joy is a synonym of music. Music is the direct channel to the heart, not only for teenagers, but of course especially for them. Every day I see new aspects to Spiritist music. It goes beyond labels and is evidence of the essence of the Christian message. Music is a precious tool in the effort of evangelisation, as it leads to reflection, it aggregates people and brings joy to our hearts. 

What do you think is the main lesson you have learned form Spiritism?

The immortality of the soul has been the constant object of my reflections. As we accept that God exists, that He is fair and good, our questions about the nature of life gain, at each new experience, a new aspect. Our questions and our failure to comply get a new meaning, to which we are drawn. Spiritism has taught me that there will always be a possibility to do it in a different way, of starting again. I quote here the words of the great medium Chico Xavier: "Although no one can go back and have a new beginning, anyone can start today to make a new ending".