Making It Work From 7,600 Miles Away
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Joseph joined CatholicMatch because he knew several friends who had success with online dating.
Unfortunately, over the next several years, it seemed he did not share that good luck. That is, until Josephine also signed up for online dating.
She was a member for six months before Joseph, in his 30s, clicked on her profile. On the opposite side of the globe, in the Philippines to be exact, Josephine responded with a simple “hello!”
She was prompted to reach out because, besides being handsome and a hardworking director of development, Joe played the piano. As a ballet teacher, she loved music and always appreciated others who also did. Plus, he obviously shared her Catholic values!
For his part, Joe noted her passion for dancing amid her beautiful pictures and kind demeanor. After that simple hello, they began messaging daily over the CatholicMatch website.
After several months, Josephine, 33, grew a little frustrated.
She had been expecting Joe to open the conversation of where he saw their budding connection going, but so far, he hadn’t brought up anything of that nature. She didn’t know that Joe was struggling with this very thing, too. A romance across the globe seemed so unlikely, would they even have a chance of making it work?
Josephine’s sister and another close friend came to the rescue. During the limbo of messaging online, they encouraged Josephine to be patient and just wait. She followed their advice and bided her time. “I am thankful I trusted in God, because it was worth the wait!” she recalls.
After nine whole months of messaging online, Joe finally decided he needed to bring up the topic and express his official romantic interest in Josephine. And shortly after, they planned their first date.
Between their first message and first date, 13 long months had passed.
The two finally met when Joseph traveled to Hong Kong for a week, where Josephine met him so they could go out to dinner together. Taking their online connection into the real world turned out to be the best thing they’d ever done, and both were excited to see what this relationship would hold! Over the next couple days, Joe set up one of their cherished memories: he treated Josephine to a night at the Hong Kong ballet. They bonded over their love of music and ballet dancing, and the rest of the week simply flew by.
When Joe returned to the United States, they were officially a dating couple, complete with all the obstacles that come with long distance dating.
They both held some doubts that the relationship would last, given their different countries and cultures.
The primary challenge was trying to communicate in different time zones, in different countries . . . on opposite sides of the world. (Go big or go home, right?)
They both worked hard at maintaining their connection and building a romantic relationship. It was hard, as distance always is, but definitely worth it.
Joseph spent more time with Josephine in her Phillippine hometown over Easter in 2019. He stayed there over the whole Triduum, with a secret plan in mind. On Easter morning, he took Josephine to three meaningful places in her hometown, giving her puzzle pieces of a heart with each stop. Their final destination was in her local Cathedral’s adoration chapel, where she found the puzzle pieces fit together to read “Will You Marry Me?”
Now came the task of planning their wedding with Josephine in the Philippines, and Joe in the United States! With long-distance dating skills already honed, event planning proved to be no monster.
They wed September 7th of 2019 in the Philippines.
“The highlights were the Mass presided by the bishop, as well as our families being present, particularly Joseph’s, who came from the other side of the world,” Josephine remembers.
After being married several months, they both agree spiritual and emotional closeness have been the highlights of their marriage so far. They also strive to model their parents’ relationships, which were full of selflessness and devotion to family. Joe most appreciates Josephine’s trust in God and her hope for the future, while Josephine has renewed love for Joseph’s efforts to make the relationship work, particularly in the face of spousal visas.
“We are still waiting for the US Government to approve Josephine’s spousal visa so she can join me in the USA,” Joseph says.
As they are now, he flies to visit his wife every 2-3 months until she can join him in the United States. During their long-distance phase of marriage, they count on the help of some of their favorite saints, including Saint Joseph, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, Saint Padre Pio, and Saint Faustina, who among others, have been sources of spiritual strength at different points in their lives, and who continue to support them.