Tom and Bernadette both appreciated the value of finding someone faith-focused on CatholicMatch. They didn’t rush into things after first making contact on the site; in fact, they communicated for a few months before meeting each other in person. And that first meeting was when Tom knew he was going to marry her.
“We met at my parents house." Bernadette wanted to see how Tom would interact with her family. “When he came I was outside watching my younger siblings and we talked for a while outside. Later we played a game together and he stayed for supper. And after supper we went for a walk with a few of my siblings before he had to leave.”
Tom had fond memories of the first date. “This was a wonderful experience, as there was no pressure to impress her on a date, and I got to meet her parents and siblings,” he said. “I remember when I first met Bernadette it was like I knew her for a very long time, like a dear old friend, and it just felt ‘natural,’ for lack of a better term. I was barely nervous! I really felt like I was at home. I knew at that first meeting we were going to get married.”
At 18 and 22, Tom and Bernadette have work and school schedules to work around. They both live in Wisconsin, but are two hours apart from each other. “We text every day, though, to say hello, and call frequently. We really got to know each other better over the phone,” explained Tom. He would also drive to visit Bernadette so they could spend some time together when they could. They were together for “about 5 months from the first email to the ring on her finger,” Tom said.
They were sitting together talking when he popped the question. “She knew I was going to ask the question so we were kind of dilly-dallying while I worked up the courage to ask,” he said. They plan to be married May 9.
Their faith is central to their relationship, and they both spend time praying for each other, making faith a priority in their lives. They were both looking for someone they could raise a family with someday. Online dating allowed them to really get to know each other and find what they were looking for.
“There were no potential partners at my parish, and four years at a Catholic college yielded nothing either. I am not big into socializing, so I thought online dating would be a good way to meet someone,” said Tom. “I also liked that I could get to know more about someone before seeking a relationship with her. It helps to see if the two people are compatible before going through the dating process to find out you’re not meant for each other.”
Bernadette felt the same way. “I hope we have children soon and look forward to starting a family,” she said. “I found the man God wants me to raise a family with.”
Continue Reading
