In human eyes and in the light of history, we are a Catholic religious congregation, headquartered in Rome and present in various countries. Currently, we are in 19 nations, where religious dedicate their lives, in partnership with laypeople, to the realization of a noble purpose: the education of hearts and minds for a future of hope.
The Congregation of Holy Cross was founded in the 19th century in France. It emerged during a time marked by deep social and spiritual wounds, inherited from a turbulent period following the French Revolution. Faced with the challenges that arose, Fathers Jacques Dujarié and Basil Moreau began a work inspired by the Gospel. They chose education as their path: to foster the integral development of human beings. This is the foundation of our charism and mission—the hallmark that guides us to this day.
From the very beginning, visionary people—brothers and priests—have sustained this project. They were ahead of their time. They believed in the words of Jesus—“you are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14)—and, with courage, dedicated themselves to building a more just and compassionate world, grounded in Christian values—universal and humanistic. They made a clear choice to stand with the most vulnerable. They never backed down in the face of difficulties. They pressed on, convinced that bringing God into people’s hearts was a commitment that transcended distances, risks, and limits.
The mission was not confined by France’s borders. It spread far and wide, taking root on different continents. It arrived in Brazil in 1944, initially settling in the city of São Paulo, in the Jaguaré neighborhood, where Canadian priests founded St. Joseph Parish in 1945. It became a landmark of the Congregation’s presence in the country. Alongside the Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Paudalho (PE), it forms our solid spiritual and ecclesial foundation.
From these beginnings, the Congregation grew on Brazilian soil. Between 1951 and 1960, the educational mission took root in three schools, which became benchmarks in the country: Dom Amando School, Santa Cruz School, and Notre Dame Campinas School. At the same time, social projects began operating in different regions, offering support and care to people in vulnerable situations. This commitment was recognized with our CEBAS certification as a philanthropic entity, which attests to our identity as a nonprofit organization and our service provided with responsibility, ethics, and transparency.
In God’s eyes, we are missionaries. Called to make Him known, loved, and served. We live out this mission as members of a single family, sustained by faith and fraternity. It is in this communion that we—religious and laypeople alike—find the strength to transform lives. Like branches of the same tree, we seek in the charism of Holy Cross the light and sustenance that keep this work alive..
Murilo Daniel Botelho Gomes
Director of Mission Front
