Maria Solha Teixeira: 

“The Spiritist Movement is still very small in our town”

A pioneer of Spiritism in the town of Bragança Paulista, in Brazil’s
Sao Paulo State, our interviewee continues working as a
volunteer at the grand age of 92
 

	Maria Solha Teixeira (photo), better known in Bragança Paulista as Dona Cida, had her first experiences with mediumship aged 22. She is now 92. She had visions and was very close to being admitted to hospital. There was no diagnosis for her “problems”, but it was thought she was mad. Years later she would realise what she was had was
very open mediumship. She began her journey into Spiritism in 1945, aged 24. She is was a pioneer and helped building the Bezerra de Menezes Spiritist Centre, the first one in the city.

Please introduce us to the town of Bragança Paulista.

It lies in a privileged geographical position, in Sao Paulo state, close to the state border with Minas Gerais. It lies right in the centre of a triangle formed by three important cities – Sao Paulo (the state capital), Campinas and Jundiai – in the Paraiba river valley. It is an important commercial centre in the region, with several universities and important cultural centres.

How and when did Spiritism begin in the town?

It was around 1935. Followers of Spiritism in our town gathered in their homes, making sure they rotated and avoided meeting often in the same address. After all, Bragança was the headquarters of the Catholic administration in our region. There was huge prejudice against Spiritism, which was persecuted in the region.

Who were the main pioneers in Bragança?

There were 24 pioneers: Alípio Osório, Antonio Domiciano Pereira Júnior, Antonio Reis, Benedito Albino de Oliveira, Benedito Barbosa Lima, Benedito de Toledo Leme, Cacilda Escobar Ribas, Corina Escobar Pereira, Dario Avelino de Oliveira, Didiê Silva, Gilberto Lyra de Oliveira, João Batista Grillo, João Marcondes Escobar, Leonildo Amighini, Lilá de Moraes Alves, Luiz Camparoto, Manoel Deodoro de Vasconcellos, Maria Angélica Escobar, Maria Bertine Reis. Mauro Marcondes Escobar, Octávio Escobar, Pascoal Bernardi, Ulisses Arruda and Victorino Alves.

How many Spiritist Groups are there in the town?

We have now 12 Groups. The pioneering Group is the Bezerra de Menezes Spiritist Centre, founded on May 22^nd 1940.

How do you help disseminate the Teachings in the town?

We organise seminars, talks and lectures and we have a powerful ally in all the published Spiritist books, which we try to promote. Many non-Spiritists here accept our values and principles and attend our events. But the Spiritist Movement is still very small in our town.

What are the main aid programmes you are engaged in?

We work mainly on Spiritist education, helping  people understand the Teachings, and provide Spiritual and social aid and counselling.

How do you assess the Group where you work as a volunteer, Bezerra de Menezes?

My assessment is very positive, as our Groups focuses mainly on enlightenment of others based on the Spiritist Teachings, which pave the way for a better life and a future of peace.