November 24, 2023, started out as a normal day for Belem. She wasn’t expecting her life to change when she logged onto CatholicMatch that morning, but as she scrolled, one profile caught her eye.
The man’s words about faith, values, and his vision for the future stood out for their sincerity.
His name was Caleb, and something about his authenticity moved her to click “like.”
Just a few hours later, Caleb noticed her profile too. He was drawn to her creativity and passion for digital art, but what truly caught his attention was the way her faith and values shone through every detail.
Caleb wasted no time reaching out with a message. “I told her that I found her very interesting and wanted to know more about her digital art,” Caleb recalled.
That simple exchange opened the door to something much deeper. From that day forward, Belem and Caleb spoke every single day. They shared their passions, swapped stories, laughed, prayed, and little by little built a foundation of trust. “Of course, there was physical attraction,” Belem admitted, “but what amazed us most was finding someone who truly loved God, shared the same values, and had the same goals in life.”
Their relationship was one rooted in prayer.
Very quickly, prayer became the bedrock of their relationship. They read Scripture together over video calls, exchanged audio recordings of Psalms, and lifted one another up in prayer when apart.
“We know that without God, we are nothing,” Caleb said. “We cannot truly love one another if we are not first connected to the source of Love Himself.”
They also made a promise early on—to honor chastity and live their relationship in grace. “This is something we work on together every single day,” Belem shared.
They went from on a screen to actual reality!
After four months of virtual conversations, Caleb boarded a plane to Mexico to meet Belem in person. Their first embrace in Mexico City confirmed what they already felt in their hearts. “The connection we experienced was even deeper than we imagined,” Belem said. “It was truly wonderful.”
The months that followed brought even bigger changes. In September 2024, Caleb made the bold decision to move to Mexico for graduate studies, leaving behind the comfort of his home in the United States to be with Belem. “Caleb made many sacrifices for us,” Belem said. “We are deeply grateful for everything that has allowed us to be together.”
A proposal by St. Joseph!
On June 8, 2025, during a Catholic couples’ retreat, Belem and Caleb’s story took its most beautiful turn yet. After exchanging heartfelt letters of commitment, Caleb signed his note with a life-changing question: “Will you marry me?”
As Belem read his letter, Caleb dropped to one knee beside a statue of St. Joseph, offering a ring and a promise of forever.
“It was perfect,” Belem remembered. “Especially because it happened right beside St. Joseph.”
They are now helping each other toward Heaven...
Now engaged, Belem and Caleb see their love as more than a romance—it is a vocation. Their greatest desire is to help each other become holier, to be patient in trials, and to challenge one another with love.
“Our greatest desire is to help each other reach Heaven,” Caleb explained. “We care first and foremost about each other’s souls.”
The gift of God’s timing.
Looking back, the couple can’t help but marvel at how God orchestrated every detail. “CatholicMatch has truly been a blessing and a gift from God,” they said. “Without this platform, we would never have met, and we would not be living the love story we share today.”
Their advice for others is simple: they encourage couples to pray first, swipe second. They advise others to discern marriage before they begin dating, and to join with the openness to make a sincere gift of self.
Belem also said it is important to trust God’s timing, be honest, and never be afraid to be fully yourself.
Because sometimes, all it takes is a single click, a moment of courage, and God’s grace to turn an ordinary day into the beginning of forever.
