As part and parcel of the expression of the richness of the diversity of charisms and of ecclesial communion, there has been a noticeable and consistent increase in the quantity and quality of lay participation in the spirituality and apostolate of the Religious Institute. In this way the dimension of complementarities is broadened. This dimension is expressed concretely in the Institute by its living a spirituality specific to a religious family, and by groups of laity which contribute to the living of the Institutes vitalizing charism throughout society according to their state of life.
 
From the very beginning of his mission of ministry to migrants, John Baptist Scalabrini involved the laity as an effective and important part of his project. In addition, in the historical memory of the Congregation of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters - MSCS - one can see that there has been a prosperous cooperation between the laity and the MSCS Sisters. In most of the MSCS missions, mainly in the early stages, the laity made a generous, continuous, spontaneous and diversified presence. 
 
In 1997, at the first International Meeting of Lay People, which took place in Fatima, Portugal, the decision was made to constitute a Movement of Scalabrinian Lay Missionaries - SLM. This decision was made in recognition of the necessity for organizing the laity in order to put into action, with the utmost efficiency, the Scalabrinian Vocation among migrants in the present ecclesial and social context. This goal was reached after a long period of formation and experience which started in 1984. The movement is formed by people who, through their particular charism, participate in the spirituality and apostolic life of the MSCS Congregation, as part of the same spiritual family.
 
In 1997, during the Meeting held in Fatima, the laity studied and approved the first basic document of the Movement. After this stage, during the General Assembly of the Major Superiors of the MSCS Congregation, held in October 1999 in the U.S.A., the Movement received official recognition of their contributions. The experience of single active groups at the Provincial level proved to be the common resource in preparing for this future path together. In October 2000, at the International Meeting held in Campo Grande, Brazil, the document "General Directives of the Scalabrinian Lay Missionaries Movement" was approved. This document approved ad experimentum will guide the Movement for the next two years.
 
The SLM today is both engaged in the formation and in the completion of the their organization on an international level; and continues daily, often silently, the Scalabrinian project, in the respective local realities of its members, by taking care of people on the move.