Born in the city of Porto, Portugal, on 28 November 1889, and passing away (disincarnating) in Rio de Janeiro on 12 October 1955. He was a man favoured by material fortune, well placed in life as a just reward for his spirit of hard work; however, he knew how to make good use of his wealth, never allowing himself to be enslaved by it, instead redirecting it to the benefit of his direct employees and to works of charity. In the field of his commercial activities, he was highly esteemed, both by his clientele and by his employees, who became interested in the firm, each receiving a share in the profits according to the interest and ability they demonstrated. His parents were Manoel Sebastião Pereira de Souza Júnior and Mrs Maria Luíza Ramos de Souza. He arrived in Brazil at the age of 12, in 1901, landing in Rio de Janeiro determined to succeed in life, as he indeed did, above all through his spirit of honesty, facing arduous struggles without ever losing heart for a single moment.

His first job was at the tailoring house “O Fonseca”, in Rua do Ouvidor. He then worked for several other firms, such as “América-Japão”, “Barbosa Freitas”, “Camisaria Universo”, “Fábrica Confiança”, “O Cysne”, and finally “Camisaria Brandão”, from where he left to found his own company, “O Camiseiro”, on 1 May 1919. He progressed considerably, becoming one of the largest firms in the shirt manufacturing market in Rio de Janeiro. He married Mrs Deolinda Veloso de Souza Agostinho, with whom he had six children. Mrs Deolinda was a medium of remarkable virtues, working extensively in service of the Spiritist Doctrine. After a short period of insidious illness, she left him widowed on 12 October 1954. It was a great blow for Agostinho, which he bore with the patience born of the Spiritist Doctrine, through the knowledge of the immortality of the soul. On the first anniversary of the passing of his adored wife, exactly on 12 October 1955, Agostinho, after a brief illness, had the blessing of detaching himself from the physical body in the greatest serenity, departing in search of his gentle companion of earthly journey, in undeniable proof that they were truly kindred souls.

The passing of Agostinho from the Spiritist scene in Rio de Janeiro caused great longing and deep sadness among his fellow workers. It was an irreparable loss due to the great love he showed for the cause. A humanitarian spirit, devoted to good, he collaborated in almost all works of assistance to abandoned children and the elderly, helping indiscriminately all those who needed him, according to his means, always taking into account each person’s real need in order to provide proper assistance. Agostinho Pereira de Souza had an unshakeable faith in Jesus. He went through serious difficulties in life, but never allowed himself to be discouraged, even in the face of the most difficult problems; his faith overcame all vicissitudes, convinced that God, the magnanimous Father and Creator of all things, always supplies our deficiencies, for He has everything to give us, provided that we attune ourselves to Him through faith, as recommended by Jesus. His belief in the immortality of the soul was grounded in Spiritism, according to the Codification given to Allan Kardec by the Spirit of Truth. Agostinho never departed from the principles of the Spiritist Doctrine.

He was a member of the Superior Council of the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, a board member of the Spiritist Group “Anthony Léon” of Tijuca, and also took part in the Marieta Gaio Foundation, alongside its founder Manoel Jorge Gaio. At the suggestion of Leopoldo Machado, after the success of a major promotion in his business, he approached the leadership of the Spiritist Association “Obreiros do Bem”, which at the time intended to build a hospital for the mentally ill. He became interested in the project, donated the land on Rua Santa Alexandrina in Rio Comprido, and under his presidency, effort, and tenacity, supported by a group of other dynamic companions, he initiated the construction of the Spiritist Hospital “Pedro de Alcântara”, a work of great magnitude. In his eagerness to serve, Agostinho also organised, alongside the hospital, the “Santo Agostinho” Health and Maternity House, in honour of the great Augustine of Christianity, from whom he inherited his name. Unfortunately, this majestic hospital no longer bears the Spiritist name on its façade; its administration is no longer Spiritist, although it remains the property of the Spiritist Association “Obreiros do Bem”. The directors and members of the institution are no longer able to apply Spiritist therapeutic practices to the mentally ill patients interned there, as originally intended by its founder and his entire team. A doctor, former director of the hospital, was even threatened with legal action by trainee physicians for applying a “pass” (spiritual healing) to a patient considered mentally ill and was forced to abandon his position as hospital director.

To speak of the work of Agostinho Pereira de Souza is endless, for there was hardly any Spiritist undertaking in Rio de Janeiro in which his name did not appear in the forefront. Together with Leopoldo Machado, he founded the radio programme “Hora Espírita” on the former Rádio Transmissora. He was one of the pillars in the organisation of the First Congress of Spiritist Youth of Brazil, alongside Leopoldo Machado, Lins de Vasconcellos, Carlos Imbassahy, and many others. A fluent speaker, he took part in various Spiritist Weeks and in the constant “Go and Preach” work throughout the former Federal District. He wrote several pamphlets based on his doctrinal knowledge and greatly assisted Leopoldo Machado in the publication of his books. A kind-hearted, calm, measured man with a Christian temperament, Agostinho Pereira de Souza was recognised as humble in all his achievements. His actions, his attitude, his dedication to the Spiritist Cause, and his love for the Divine Friend Jesus led him to sublime examples, preaching the Gospel not only in words, but above all through his example.