On May 25 through 28 of 2016, the city of Rosario, Argentina, received Spiritists from all over the world to celebrate the XXII Pan-American Spiritist Congress, whose theme was "Spirituality in the 21st Century."

  On the banks of the

Paraná River, the river that draws a dazzling edge in the effervescent city of Rosario, Spiritists from various corners of the planet experienced in real life what the pre Socratic philosopher Heraclitus stated long ago: "No man can enter twice the same river; because as well as the waters, we ourselves are already others." Those who had the opportunity to enjoy four days of much learning and change at the XXII Congress of CEPA, definitely left Rosario as changed beings, carrying in their luggage new knowledge and experiences, as well as memories of fraternity and affection, which were shared with Spiritist friends during the event.

The official opening of the Congress was attended by Mayor Monica Fein and more than 340 participants from 8 different countries: Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Guatemala, Spain, Puerto Rico and the United States. In the afternoon, the central auditorium of the modern complex of Puerto Norte was the setting for conferences from great lay spiritist thinkers.

The postgraduate in Epistemology of communication and teacher of religious sciences at the Federal University of Goias, Mr. Luis Signates (BRA), provoked a critical look at Spiritism towards itself, emphasizing a closer relationship with science in the search for ways towards the de-dogmatization.

Argentineans Raúl Drubich and Gustavo Molfino presented their views on "Current Tools for the Development of Consciousness"; while the former president of CEPA, lawyer and journalist Milton Medran Moreira, highlighted in his language the humanistic character of Spiritism.

In the same direction, Judge Jacira Jacinto and the free lecturer of the "Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo", Mr. Mauro Spinola, in a conference called "Solidarity, Justice, and Spirituality", dealt with important issues that were relevant to Human Rights, which we need to address in the 21st century.

The last day of the congress was focused on the area of health. Psychiatrist Dr. Alejandro Ruiz Dias (ARG) spoke about illness and health from a spiritist perspective while the former Health Minister of Brazil, Dr. Ademar Arthur Chioro traced a historical overview of the topic, culminating in global trends around health and their relationship with spirituality.

In addition to the before mentioned Spiritist speakers, the congress was attended by non-Spiritist participants, who were attracted by the spirituality theme and the secular nature of the event. Anthropologist and epistemologist Ana Maria Llamazares spoke on "Contemporary crisis and the paradigm shift: spiritual awakening as a key to personal transformation." Finally, Argentine Thanatologist Stella Maris Maruso mesmerized the public with a participatory conference that had as its central axis on the question "Is spirituality a path to health?"

The selection of the theme "Spirituality in the 21st Century" was proposed by the Congress’s Organizing Committee and accepted by the Executive Council of CEPA.

"An intuitive reading of the society in which we live led us to conclude that at the end of the twentieth century, a multiplicity of spiritual practices began to emerge within the reach of people, with the common characteristic of not being tied to doctrines, religions or dogmas. These practices can initiate a conscious awakening on the subtle areas of humanity that materialism denied and ridiculed, but which nature cannot hide", explains the Chairman of the Organizing Committee Raúl Drubich. Raúl believes that it is the right moment to address the issue, because "A society marked by consumerism and the cultivation of the ego caused, as a consequence, disorders of anxiety, depression, and the rupture of emotional bonds and social values. The paths of false progress, based on the ephemeral, collapse with the same ease with which they are built. As we continue to observe, spirituality, silence, introspection, the profound as a way of compensating and regulating life and relationships with oneself and with others, are being rediscovered." In the letter of presentation during the congress, the president of the commission affirms that these practices must be taken seriously and deserve to be studied and analyzed. "Spiritism must open its doors to observe and incorporate to its knowledge the experiential know-hows that help solve current issues of existence and, with that, to improve the quality of life of the population."

In order to study the main theme in multifocal points of view, participants were able to choose from the various presentations that took place simultaneously in the mornings, throughout a Free Themes Forum. Thirty-five speakers presented important works in the most diverse areas of human knowledge. They dealt with issues ranging from mediumnistic communications, to communications through social networks, from experiences promoted by diversity, to an analysis of manifestations of intolerance in the 21st century. For four days, lectures on art, education, science, and more were presented. All papers presented at the Congress will be available soon on the CEPA portal www.cepainternacional.org.

For Gustavo Molfino, director of the commission of studies and agenda of the organizing commission, the objectives were achieved and the XXII Congress provided a space for reflection and analysis that allowed the continuity of the process of updating Spiritism, according to the dynamic and progressive thinking of Allan Kardec, in a secular and free thinking perspective.

The success of the event was only possible thanks to the dedication of those who volunteered to be part of the Organizing Committee. That is why, on behalf of all the institutions that constitute CEPA, we affectionately thank all those who worked for the XXII Congress, and in a very special way to CEPA's former president Mr. Dante Lopez.

Organizing Commission:

 
President: Raúl Horacio Drubich

Vice President: Dante Lopez

Executive Consultant: Mónica Molfino

Commission of Studies and Themes: Gustavo Molfino

Colaboradorators: Cecilia Culzoni, Gabriel Marzioni, Gustavo Desuque, Lucia Lopez, Augusto Desuque

Finances Commission: Hugo Zlauvinen, Leandro Drubich

Promotion: Francisco López, Agustin Masut, Mercedes Culzoni, Carina Gialevra, Luisa Andretich

Creative Design: Luisa Andretich, Agustin Masut

Security: Diego Piumetti, Pablo Copke

Reception, Hotels and Arrivals: Sofica López, Gina Pongolini, Oscar Saurin, Esteban Adreoni, Gaston Viarengo

Library: Augusto Desuque, Alicia Ristorto, Irene Culzoni, Ruben Masut, Juan Carlos Fessia

Credentials and Uniforms: Augusto Desuque, Manuel Masut, Matias Marzioni, Gina Pongolini, Lucía López, Mariana Trucco, Hugo Zlauvinen, María Eugenia Villaba, Gastón Viarengo, Florencia Chiavassa

Rooms: Daniela Appo, Carina Gialevra, Jackie Granero, Eugenia Zurbeba, Cecilia Culzoni, Gustavo Desuque, María Elena Cetta, Gabriel Moschino, Dante Culzoni

Lunches and Breaks: Daniela Appo, María Elena Cetta, Analía Ruíz Días, Alicia Ristorto.

Cultural Show: Vicky Culzoni

Youth: Mariana Trucco, Augusto Desuque, Luis Laorden, Ornela Masacessi

Masters of Ceremony: Eduardo Villada e Maria Paula Marzioni.