Theresa wasn’t having much luck meeting faithful Catholics in real life.
Her brother, a Catholic priest, suggested she try CatholicMatch. After all, their sister had met her husband there, too! Theresa figured it certainly couldn’t hurt. So she set up a profile and two weeks later, a message from a man named Cale came through.
Conversely, Cale had been a CatholicMatcher for a couple of years already.
“My faith has always been of the utmost importance, and I wanted to start my relationship with us both on the same page,” he says of his choosing this dating site. He was slightly disappointed initially, and he puts it down to his very high standards for a relationship. “I’m pretty picky!” he explains, and he had a hard time finding people in whom he was interested. But he persevered, sticking to his faith-centered approach. Two years later, he ran across Theresa’s profile.
“I was first attracted to her unfaltering faith. Her love of the outdoors and willingness to try new things was also appealing!” he remembers, and quickly sent her a message. Theresa instantly noticed Cale’s strong, faith-centered life in his profile and message.
They chatted for only a week online before setting up the first date.
“I knew that I couldn't let her get away!” Cale says. “She had so many of the characteristics in a person that I was looking for. I was able to see many of them from her online profile.”
Theresa’s work schedule went right through the weekend, but Cale was flexible and they went to Mass Saturday after her shift. They then visited a wine shop before going out for dinner that evening. They hit it off in person just as they did online--conversation flowed and their mutual appreciation of the outdoors shone. “Our first date was very special and has set the tone for our relationship. I had a nervous excitement for the evening earlier in the week!” Theresa remembers. She recalls feeling a unique contentment when out with Cale that she had not felt on other first dates.
“All of our dates to follow could be described as adventures and were never the same,” Theresa says of their early relationship. The two went hiking, biking, four-wheeling, and horse riding. They explored wineries, attended family events, and cooked together at home. All the variety, along with the fantastic company, provided them ample motivation to keep driving the hour between them on the weekends. They also were both very close with their respective families and worked hard to divide time fairly between them for various events.
“After about 11 months of dating, I knew that I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life,” Cale says, and began planning a proposal. They went on a scavenger hunt of his own creation, which was made of all the “firsts” in their relationship. Following that was a horse-drawn carriage ride around town. The driver dropped them off at the church of their first date. Finally, inside, Cale proposed in front of the altar, where the ring was waiting surrounded by candles. (Cale had recruited a couple of good friends to help set up this elaborate scene!)
“It was the easiest yes I’ve ever said!” Theresa recalls.
During their engagement, Theresa and Cale began to hunt for furniture for their new home together in Illinois.
Cale participated in an online auction and ended up in a bidding war over a few key pieces. Eventually, he gave up trying to win the pieces. A week later, when the auction ended, they went to Theresa’s parent’s farm. They were shocked to find a cache of the very same furniture there!
“My brother had bid against Cale on everything and unknowingly got all the pieces!” Theresa laughs.
Marriage takes lots of preparation, and along with these house plans, one of the things they’re working on together is finances.
“I am the ‘spender’ and Cale is the ‘saver’ so we are figuring out a compromise,” Theresa says. Their differences in budgeting have helped them learn flexibility and working together. Practical things like this are more than worth it for their beloved, they’ve found!
“The more I have gotten to know the man I am going to marry, the more I appreciate his willingness to grow as a faithful man, and his ability to love and serve me in the little ways of each day,” Theresa says.
“One thing that I believe we are realizing more and more is how much of a blessing it is to be with someone who shares the same beliefs as the other. It is encouraging, uplifting, and a guiding light,” Cale says. “Starting our relationship on Catholic Match was a great way to get the most important thing in our relationship started off correctly!” Cale says.
They have set their wedding date set in 2021, where Theresa’s brother will officiate the wedding.
