Brazilian Former Priest and Nun Celebrate Their Marriage

A couple from Brazil has recently married after both left their respective vocations as a nun and a priest in the Catholic Church. Jackson and Lais Dognini, who initially met six years ago while pursuing lives of religious devotion, have shared their journey of love and faith with the world. Their wedding took place in March 2025, with Lais announcing the news on Instagram in September.

Lais Dognini detailed their past on social media, explaining, “He wanted to be a priest and went to the seminary, I wanted to be a religious (I don’t use the word nun because I think it’s ugly) and I went to the convent.” Lais spent two years at a Carmelite convent before leaving to address her mental health challenges, a decision that ultimately led to their romantic relationship.

From Monastic Life to Romance

While Lais and Jackson crossed paths during their time in religious service, it was not until Jackson sent Lais a farewell message of prayer that their connection deepened. They began communicating frequently, even as Jackson continued his studies in the seminary, under the impression that Lais would soon return to the convent.

According to a report by O Globo, after Jackson decided to leave seminary training, their relationship blossomed. They planned their first meeting, which included attending mass together, dining out, and going to the movies. “That day, he was going to ask me to marry him, and I didn’t know anything. It was St. Therese’s day,” Lais recounted.

By April 2024, they were officially in a relationship, and by October 2024, they were engaged. Lais emphasized on her Instagram that the timeline of their relationship might seem brief, stating, “It seems little, right? But let’s face it, we are already adults, and we know what we want from life.”

Clarifying Their Journey

Lais has taken the opportunity to clarify that their departures from religious life were not solely motivated by their desire to be together. “I had already left the convent three years ago, and he had already left the seminary by discernment of the vocation. We had no contact; we even lived in different states,” she explained. “It was only after that that we started to relate, so there were no scandals.”

Their story highlights the complexities of personal growth and the search for love beyond traditional boundaries. The couple’s journey from religious life to a shared future represents not only a personal transformation but also a broader narrative about the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment outside of conventional expectations.