Mauro Maia Lélis: 

“Working on interpersonal relations in a Spiritist
Centre is crucial” 

The President of the Spiritist Group Paz, from the Brazilian city of Conselheiro Lafaiete, talks about the work carried out by the organisation, which is celebrating its 108^th anniversary

	Mauro Maia Lélis (photo) was born into a Spiritist family in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state. He lives in the state capital, Belo Horizonte, but is the president of the Grupo Espírita Paz – GEP(Peace Spiritist Group) in his hometown, Conselheiro Lafaiete, some 100km away. GEP is one of eight Spiritist Centes in the city. In this interview he talks about the Spiritist
Movement in the area:

How did you begin your involvement in the Spiritist Movement? 

I was born into a Spiritist family and began attending meetings when I was 10, in the company of my mother. Later I joined a Spiritist Centre in the city of Belo Horizonte. 

Could you tell us about the Spiritist Group you lead, GEP? 

I am now in the second mandate as president, but the work of directing the Group is carried out by all members of the Board. The Group was founded in 1906, by five people. At the time, the city of Conselheiro Lafaiete was still called Queluz. 

What is your assessment of the Spiritist Movement in Minas Gerais state? 

I believe the different Groups are increasing their cooperation and working together. As for our Group, the service that we provide that really touches my heart is the evangelisation of children. Seeing those bright little eyes hearing the words of Jesus under the light of Spiritism really makes me really happy and optimistic. 

What other activities do you have in the Spiritist Group Paz? 

We work basically in two areas: the theory and human development. In the first area, we have classes for children and young people and help disseminate the Teachings in lectures, talks and public meetings. We also have a radio programme. As for human development and aid, we have an ongoing campaign to get food donations for poor people and we have a Sunday lunch, when we hand out basic staples for those who need. 

Do you agree with the structure of the work in most Spiritist Centres in Brazil, with the public lecture or talk and the healing as the core activities? 

I heard once from a Spiritist speaker that it is very likely that we were born in previous lives as Roman Catholics and that we are still influenced by old customs. We must be careful not to make the public lecture our mass and the healing our communion. There are other important activities in a Spiritist Centre, such as the lessons for children. We need to prepare the new generations, as they will be key in the new phase we are moving into, of Regeneration. We must not overlook social and charity projects either. By helping others we will be doing charity for ourselves.  

What advice would you give to the directors of other Spiritist Centres? 

The same advice I give to myself and to members of the Board of Directors at our group, GEP: we must work on the interpersonal relations in Spiritist Centres, we must encourage our links and get together and united as in a real family. 

Spiritism is based on three aspects: science, philosophy and religion. Which one of them should get bigger emphasis in the studies and courses offered by Spiritist Centres? 

As the great Spirit Emmanuel teaches us, we need two wings in order to reach the higher echelons: the wing of love and the wing of wisdom. Spiritism is reasoned faith, which means we need to understand what happens around us in the light of science, philosophy and the love provided by the religion, or re-linking with God. We are going through a phase of transition in the planet from a Spiritual point of view. We are becoming a world of Regeneration, coming to the end of the phase of Trials and Tribulations. In this particular moment, we need to work with all aspects of Spiritism. We need to bring forward its religious face to reach out the hardened hearts of so many, but we need to back our arguments with strong, undisputable facts. As Fénelon says in Chapter I, item 10 of The Gospel According to Spiritism, heart and love must go on hand in hand with science. 

Is it really good being a Spiritist? 

Initially, we realise we are responsible for our acts and thoughts and that is difficult to accept. But then we realise we will need to come face to face with ourselves sooner or later. We will need to face our dark side, our inner enemies and to find truth, which as Jesus taught us, is our liberator. When we have our doubts clarified and we feel comforted and enlightened by reasoned faith, we will realise that we still need to put our virtues into practice and to get connected with the Creator through the pure feeling of love. To be a Spiritist is a privilege, said Spiritist speaker and medium Helaine Sabbadini. 

Thank you very much. Would you like to add anything? 

I thank you for the opportunity of talking about the Spiritist Group that has welcomed me and that I love so much. At the same time this is an opportunity to pay tribute to the pioneers of the Spiritist Movement in the region, in Minas Gerais state.