The lay movement in BRASIL  began in different ways according to the part of the Canossian family each group belonged. In Brazil the Canossian family is represented by the Daughters of Charity and the Sons of Charity.

The lay groups developed according to the city where there were either Canossian Fathers or Mothers and had particular characteristics but everyone was united in communion by the same Charism.

The formation itineraries were distinct, but from 1994, after the International Congress of Lay Canossians held in Asiago, Italy, it was decided to unify the formation of all lay people interested in our Charism.

There should no longer exist phrases like “the lay people of the Priests” and “the lay people of the Sisters”. This decision brought about a greater union among everyone and consolidated the lay movement very much. In this way we form a real family where all the components are autonomous but collaborate together in fraternal communion.

Various meetings took place with the participation of the Superior of the Daughters of Charity, Sr. Dilma Bonini, the delegated Superior Fr. Giorgio Mazin and representatives of the two groups of lay Canossians, with the intention of forming a union of all the groups, elaborate a common project for formation and promote a National Congress.In May 1995 this National Congress was held in Araras at Casa Emaús with the participation of all lay groups and a formation project was produced, along the lines of the Congress of Asiago.

Following this every year a meeting took place involving lay coordinators, lay formators and the religious animators of every group to elaborate a common statute based on the International Statutes of the Lay Canossians. Finally, in 1998 a single statute was approved and given the name of ‘Rule of Life’.

In 1999 an International Assembly took place with participation of Argentina, and another National Congress.

Every year there were meetings with those responsible for every group in which material was produced for formation, both initial and permanent formation. Our last meeting was held in January 2003 when we celebrated the third National Congress.

The Lay Canossians in Brazil are present in three regions: the north-east, the south-east and the south. Altogether there are 194 permanent lay Canossians distributed in 12 cities:

Águas de Lindóia (SP) with 1 lay Canossian; Anápolis (GO) with 48 lay Canossians; Araras (SP) with 29 lay Canossians;  Ilhabela (SP) with 10 lay Canossians;  Imperatriz (MA) with 28 lay Canossians; Joinville (SC) with 13 lay Canossians;  Nova Odessa (SP) with 19 lay Canossians; Magé-Piabetá (RJ) with 20 lay Canossians; Ribeirão Preto (SP) with 34 lay Canossians; Santos (SP) with 1 lay Canossian; São João do Meriti- Agostino Porto (RJ) with 16 lay Canossians; Serrana (SP) with 6 lay Canossians.

More than 36 other lay people are following initial formation. Every group carries out a different service, according to the local needs and are accompanied by either a Canossian Sister or a Canossian priest. The exceptions are: Águas de Lindóia (SP), where the Canossian Institutes have never been present, and Anápolis (GO), where there was once a community of Canossian Sisters but the lay Canossians continue their formation and the service started together with the Sisters.