Adriano
Maschetto:
“Obreiros do Bem
is the
pioneering
Spiritist
organisation in
the city
of São Carlos”
The current
president of the
Spiritist
Society Obreiros
do Bem talks
about the 90
years of
the
organisation,
which celebrated
in January its
anniversary
 |
The Spiritist
Society Obreiros
do Bem, from the
Brazilian city
of São Carlos,
in the state of
São Paulo,
celebrated last
January its 90th
anniversary.
Adriano
Maschetto
(photo),
whose term as
president
expires in May
2016, makes a
summary in this
interview of the
main facts in
the history of
the
organisation.
For the past 25
years, Maschetto
|
|
has lived in São
Carlos, where he
works as a
dentist. He
became a
Spiritist in
1988, after
reading The
Spirits’ Book.
He shares
here with us his
experiences. |
When was the
Spiritist
organisation
Obreiros do Bem
founded? Who
were its
founders?
It was founded
on January 16th
1926 and named
Spiritist Centre
Maria de Jesus
(Mary of Jesus).
It operated
initially in
rented
accommodation
until it
acquired its own
building. Its
first president
was José Garcia.
The other board
members were
Ernesto Bentim,
José Bentim,
Nicola Veltri
and Ghilherme
Thcile. On July
4th
1959, it
reformed its
charter and
changed its name
to Spiritist
Society Obreiros
do Bem.
Is it the first
Spiritist
organisation in
São Carlos? How
many Spiritist
Groups are there
in the city
today?
There are no
records of any
Spiritist
organisation in
the city before
1926. For that
reason, Obreiros
do Bem is
considered the
pioneering
organisation in
the city of São
Carlos. We have
now 30 Spiritist
Groups
affiliated to
the local
Spiritist
federation.
What are the
main
characteristics
of the
organisation?
I think our main
feature is the
role we have
played in the
development of
prominent
Spiritists who
first came in
contact with the
Teachings with
us and
progressed in
their studies
here. Many of
them went on to
found other
Spiritist
organisations in
more remote
locations of São
Carlos and also
in neighbouring
cities. They
have taken with
them our golden
principle of
remaining
faithful to the
Teachings
codified by
Allan Kardec.
What is your
assessment of
the involvement
of Obreiros do
Bem with other
Spiritist Groups
and activities
in the city?
Obreiros do Bem
is deeply
involved in the
common
activities
organised by the
local Spiritist
body, aiming at
integrating the
various regional
Spiritist
Centres. Not
only we take
part in all such
activities but
in many
occasions we
have opened our
facilities to
host those
events.
What are the
activities and
services offered
by Obreiros do
Bem?
We have talks
and healing on
Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday;
study groups
from Monday to
Thursday;
mediumship
groups from
Monday to
Friday; family
activities, such
as
evangelisation
for children,
youth groups,
elderly groups
etc. on
Saturday; and
talks and
seminars once a
month on a
Saturday and a
Sunday.
How are the
celebrations for
the 90th
anniversary?
We decided to
mark the 90th
anniversary with
a number of
events to help
disseminate
Spiritism. We’ve
had talks and
meetings with
well-known
Spiritist
speakers, such
as Francisco
Cajazeiras,
Edson Ramos de
Siqueira and
Richard
Simonetti. And
this month we
will host the
Third Meeting
“Under the Light
of the Gospel”
with Marcio
Correa and Saulo
Cesar. And much
more is to come
until the end of
the year.
What aspect of
the Spiritist
Movement draws
your attention
in particular
these days?
It is the recent
and ever growing
interest in the
studies of the
New Testament
and even some
points of the
Old Testament
under the light
of Spiritism.
The whole of the
Spiritist
community in
Brazil has been
very interested
in that. That is
a positive
development as
it gets
Spiritists to
know the Gospel
better and to
understand it.
This development
will contribute
towards union
among Christians
across the world
and eventually
among all human
beings, always
under the
inspiration of
Our Master
Jesus.
What are your
final thoughts?
May Our Master
continue to
inspire oupºyall
of us, volunteer
workers at
Spiritist
organisations,
so that the
Christian ideals
that Kardec
summarised so
well may
continue to be
our guiding
light, taking us
towards Christ’s
bright kingdom
of divine love.
