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OLAVO NOVAES 1927—1994
fhumble background Olavo Novaes
was born in the interior of the state of $50 Paulo, Brazil, in 1927. He was introduced to the Bahá’í Faith in the early 19503, when he was working as a caretaker of the Theosophical Society in 5:10 Paulo, which offered its meeting and conference facilities to the different religions. Even before declaring his faith in Bahá’u’lla’h and being enrolled as a Bahá’í, Olavo was an active teacher of the Faith. Working with Mr. Edmund Miessler,86 he taught the Faith in the different neighborhoods of $510 Paulo, distributing Bahá’í leaflets.
In 1957 he still had not enrolled as a Bahá’í. When the beloved Guardian passed away, Olavo received a phone call informing him of the news and inviting him to a special prayer meeting. He attended and was impressed as everyone was deeply grieving. That was the beginning of a change in his life; he began to deepen himself and eventually declared his faith in Baha’u’llah.
In the early sixties Olavo offered to travel teach in other regions of the country. He was blessed to have known and to have taught with the many Hands of the Cause of God who visited Brazil. Olavo was also one of the first Brazilians who fulfilled an international pioneering goal for his country. He pioneered to Colombia, where he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly. As a result he was privileged to be a delegate in 1963 to the International Convention in the Holy Land, electing for the first time the Universal House of Justice.
86 See “In Memoriam,” 7h Ballad? W/orld, vol. XVII, PP- 430'31 THE BAHA’I’ WORLD
A very successful teacher of the Faith, Olavo also spread the Message of Baha’u’llah with courage and determination in Bolivia and Ecuador. He returned to Brazil and settled as a pioneer in the southern part of the country, traveling teaching throughout the states of Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul. Responding to a call of Dr. Muhájir for pioneers to the Amazon, Olavo once again gave up his personal interests and moved to a region of Amazonia on the Btazil—Colombia border. He helped to establish the foundation of the Tabatinga Baha’ i community; Tabatinga is a municipality in the Tres Fronteras area of northwestern Brazil, in the state of Amazonas. He served the Faith there with absolute steadfastness, bringing into the Faith hundreds ofnew believers representing all levels of society‘and indigenous peoples. Afterward he moved to Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, where he spent the last days of his earthly life. He passed away at the end of March 1994. On April 10 the Universal House of Justice sent its condolences to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Brazil:
Saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Olavo Novaes, who distinguished himself through his meritorious pioneering activities. His service in Colombia, which included membership on its National Spiritual Assembly, and later his outstanding labors in the upper Amazon region, all contribute to a record of devotion to the Blessed Beauty that is warmly remembered.
Assure prayers at the Sacred Shrines for the progress of his soul.
