Cork native Christina didn’t mean to subscribe to CatholicMatch at all. The 22-year-old had made a free profile, in a vague effort to look for some community and like-minded friends. She had the impression that online dating was for the desperate and lonely people in the world, which she certainly didn’t want to be. Being that she was also contemplating the idea of religious life, as well as volunteering in a homeless hostel during the height of the pandemic, dating didn’t seem to be on the table.
But, on July 6th of 2021, her phone completely froze while she was scrolling online.
“I kept pressing my screen, and then to my shock, I had managed to purchase a 6-month subscription in the process!” Christina laughs. She found herself an accidental full member of CatholicMatch, with all the perks that go with it. She decided to make the most of the accident, and start a few conversations online to find some friends. She loved reading people’s bios, exploring their different faith stories, and seeing how her beloved religion impacted so many people for the better.
Three days later on July 6th, she came across a brand new member named William, who had joined the site four hours prior. His devotion to the Lord was evident in his zeal and bio, so Christina typed out a message to say hi.
Two hours away in Laois, Ireland, William had joined CatholicMatch that day out of sheer boredom.
He had been hanging out with a friend, who prompted him to just try online dating and see what happens. So he wrote out a quick profile and joined, even while deciding he wouldn’t bother reaching out to anyone on the site. And then Christina’s message popped up.
Then 21, William quickly responded to her unexpected greeting. They saw lots of common ground in each other’s profiles and swapped numbers quickly.
“We started talking intensely for hours and hours over the next few days and found that we had so much in common, so many shared beliefs and principles, goals and desires!” William recalls. They discovered a grand connection, so much so that Christina told her parents she’d met her dream man online.
William took intentional to the next level as their conversations over the next week grew.
“He was very upfront that he was only interested in courting, meaning that whoever he would date he would do so only with the intention of marrying,” Christina explains. She didn’t know that as they planned their first date ten days later, William had already bought an engagement ring in secret.
“I have no regrets, there is so much to love in Christina and I honestly believe I found the woman that God wanted for me from the beginning!” William explains.
They first met in the middle of July, in Cork. Christina was so nervous that she almost backed out, but she kept thinking the Lord always asks people to persevere through fear. So she did.
“The first thing we did together was go to Adoration,” she recalls. “It was in the chapel that we both felt God reveal to us that we were kneeling beside our future spouse!”
Immediately they decided to be an exclusively dating couple.
William’s work as an online accountant allowed a flexible schedule; he began traveling down to Cork every Sunday to see Christina and would stay in her parent’s caravan outback for up to a week at a time. The two saw each other almost every day!
Christina found herself on a journey of healing that she had never expected from a romantic relationship. She struggled with her calling and some wounds from her past and discovered great relief and love in being with William.
“For me, William was a Godsend during my time of healing. He . . . reminded me each day of my worth and value, even when I had forgotten it,” she recalled. His example helped her to truly embrace God’s unconditional love, as well as discover her vocation to marriage. The two also discovered that they had met on the feast day of their patron saint, Maria Goretti, back in July!
On November 21st, the two decided to go see the Christmas lights in the city. They went to Adoration and said their rosary together in the same chapel of their first date. William unexpectedly asked if Christina would join him for a walk in the gardens. He then claimed to have forgotten something in the car and left Christina outside while he fetched it. He returned to her side with a bouquet of flowers and a love letter that ended with a request for her to untie the ribbon on the flowers. When she did, she found the ring William had secretly purchased that first week, and William proposed then and there. Of course, Christina said yes!
Their families were happy for them, but it took some time to adjust to such fast changes!
The two of them had been quite honest and open with their parents regarding their relationship, and the call they felt to get married. Nonetheless, both sets of parents were pretty surprised about the speed of their relationship. But they relied on their mutual faith and inexplicable peace they had about their romance.
“It was definitely a struggle for us to both be patient while our families came to terms with this new and very big change, but we just continued to put our trust in God knowing that He would take care of it all in his time,” Christina remembers. They tried hard not to force anyone to accept them, and as more time passed, the family grew quite comfortable and supportive of the engagement.
Their wedding is scheduled for July 6th of 2022, which marks their one-year anniversary as well as Maria Goretti’s feast day.
Christina has picked up an extra job to build up a nest egg, and William’s online accounting business continues to do well. When not wedding planning, the two enjoy Adoration, going for walks, meeting up with friends, and frequenting Christina’s favorite Catholic youth cafe. Christina’s bubbly personality compliments William’s gentle nature, and they both work hard to prioritize God’s will above their own.
“To this day I can say with all my heart that messaging William was the best decision of my life, and I am beyond blessed to have found my future husband!” Christina says.
