São Paulo, Brazil – October 9, 2025 – In a story that blends faith, vulnerability, and unexpected romance, former Carmelite nun Lais Dognini has married Jackson Dognini, a former Catholic seminarian, after he reached out to pray for her during a battle with depression. The couple, who kept their March wedding under wraps for months, shared the joyful news on Instagram on October 7, captivating followers with a tale of spiritual support turning into lasting love.
A Shared Path in Faith
Lais, now 28 and a digital influencer with a focus on wellness and spirituality, entered a Carmelite convent at age 22, committing two years to a life of prayer, contemplation, and service in strict enclosure. Jackson, 30, spent five years in seminary training for the priesthood, discerning a call to celibate ministry. The two first crossed paths over six years ago during missionary work in Brazil, but their interaction was fleeting—little more than a nod amid shared devotion.
Everything changed when Lais faced a profound mental health crisis. Overwhelmed by depression, she left the convent in 2022 to return home and prioritize recovery, stepping away from the cloistered world she once embraced. Jackson, still in seminary and unaware of the depth of her struggles, sent her a simple message: He was praying for her healing and hoped she might one day reclaim her religious path. “It doesn’t seem like much, right? But let’s face it, we’re adults now and we know what we want in life,” Lais later reflected in her Instagram announcement.
What began as pastoral encouragement evolved into daily messages, deep conversations, and a profound friendship. As Lais rebuilt her life—channeling her experiences into online content about mental health and faith—Jackson grappled with his own discernment. After months of reflection, he left the seminary in late 2023, realizing his vocation lay elsewhere. The pair officially started dating in April 2024, and Jackson proposed in October of that year during an intimate family gathering.
A Secret Ceremony and New Beginnings
Opting for privacy amid their unconventional journey, Lais and Jackson exchanged vows in a quiet civil ceremony in March 2025, surrounded only by close family. They delayed public disclosure to savor their early months of marriage, focusing on blending their spiritual roots with everyday joys like travel and content creation. Lais, whose Instagram following has grown to over 100,000, now shares glimpses of their life together, emphasizing themes of redemption and grace.
“From the convent to the altar, our story is proof that God’s plans are bigger than ours,” Jackson shared in a joint post, crediting their shared faith for sustaining them through doubt and transition. The couple plans to continue their work in faith-based advocacy, with Lais expanding her influencer platform and Jackson pursuing counseling to support others navigating vocational changes.
Echoes of Inspiration and Reflection
Their union has resonated deeply in Catholic circles and beyond, drawing parallels to other stories of former religious finding love after leaving vows—such as a 2023 Venezuelan couple, Massiel Pereyra and Tomás Cam, whose similar path went viral. Brazilian outlet O Globo, which first reported the story, highlighted how such narratives challenge rigid views of vocation while affirming the Church’s emphasis on personal discernment.
Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with fans flooding their posts with messages of congratulations and personal testimonies. “This is what real faith looks like—open to love in all forms,” one commenter wrote, while another shared, “Prayers answered in the most beautiful way.” Mental health advocates have also praised the couple for destigmatizing depression within faith communities, noting Lais’s openness as a beacon for those in similar struggles.
As Lais and Jackson Dognini step into this new chapter, their story serves as a testament to resilience, serendipity, and the transformative power of compassion—proving that sometimes, the deepest connections begin with a simple prayer.