The Tarnów Presbytery was founded by the Bishop of Kraków, Wojciech Jastrzębiec, on May 9, 1416. In 1772 it included 21 parishes. Secular brotherhoods existed in 17 parishes and 19 churches, including two monastic churches (Tuchów and Tarnów). Many of them (14) were established in the 17th century. Ten brotherhoods were established in the years 1700-1772, and nine before 1600. The legal basis for their organization were the decrees of the Holy See, as well as the Reformationes Generales of the Bishop of Kraków, Marcin Szyszkowski, from 1621. All brotherhoods had local government, whose authorities were elected annually. They were also cared for by clergy who received benefices for this purpose (as promoters or chaplains of brotherhoods). The members of the brotherhoods were people from various social classes, regardless of their affiliation to a given parish. Women dominated, constituting approximately two-thirds of all members. In some parishes (e.g. Skrzyszów), approximately one fifth of all the faithful belonged to brotherhoods. The type of piety of most brotherhoods meant that their activities included individual or collective religious practices, care of the parish church, the brotherhood chapel or the brotherhood altar. Members were also involved in charitable activities, caring for the poor and sick, and cultural activities, providing access to parish schools and donating liturgical vestments and interior design elements to the church - sometimes being important works of art. The author believes that the organizational forms and activities of ancient brotherhoods offer valuable guidance to the lay people of our times who are looking for their place in the Church.