Christopher, aged 51, and Eva, aged 43, had both experienced life's ups and downs before their paths crossed.
Christopher, hailing from Oakville, Ontario, Canada, had a tumultuous relationship with faith throughout his life. Though baptized Catholic as a child, he had not actively practiced his faith for most of his upbringing. It was only later in life that he embraced Catholicism, which led him to seek an annulment from the Catholic Church after a divorce from his previous marriage.
This led him to CatholicMatch...
Over the years, Christopher devotedly practiced his faith, studying theology and yearning for a meaningful relationship rooted in God.
Eva, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, had a different upbringing. Raised in a Catholic family, she had always been closely connected to her faith. Even after moving away from her family, Eva continued to hold her faith dear to her heart. She practiced the rosary daily and remained consecrated to Mary.
Both Christopher and Eva had previous relationships with individuals who did not align with their faith, leaving them seeking deeper spiritual connections.
Their journeys eventually brought them here to CatholicMatch, where they hoped to find like-minded individuals who shared their Catholic values. Eva had heard about CatholicMatch from a friend but only joined in 2022. Christopher, curious about the platform, joined in 2019, shortly after his annulment was approved.
Both Christopher and Eva were new to online dating, but they wanted to connect with someone who could help them grow in their faith journey.
Their paths crossed one day when Christopher initiated the first contact. He was drawn to Eva's photos that showed her personality, feeling an immediate connection to her. In his first message, he playfully compared her to the renowned actress Gal Gadot, sparking their conversations and leading to a deeper understanding of one another.
“When I saw her profile, I thought that this is the type of person I could see myself sharing my life with,” Christopher said. “She was just an honest, decent person. And she has the best smile ever, so I had to just reach out to her.”
Despite the long-distance between them, Christopher and Eva quickly began video chatting every day, building a strong friendship and a romantic dynamic that felt like "friendship on steroids."
So, he went to Mexico!
In April 2022, just over a month after their first correspondence, they met in person, and Christopher traveled all the way to Mexico to meet Eva. The moment they laid eyes on each other, they felt a profound connection. They spent a memorable week together, exploring each other's lives, and their love continued to blossom with each passing day.
Together they read H. Norman Wright’s book “101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged” on their path of discernment.
In November 2022, at a family event in Houston, Texas, Christopher met Eva's immediate family and sought her father's blessing for marriage. The proposal took place in a church, where the couple was completing the 32 Days to Morning Glory in Preparation for Marian Consecration. Christopher's heartfelt proposal was met with a resounding "yes" from Eva, and they were engaged.
On March 17, 2023, exactly one year after they first met, Christopher and Eva tied the knot.
Surrounded by their families and closest friends, they celebrated their love and commitment to each other in a beautiful ceremony. They even replaced the traditional garter and bouquet toss with a touching ceremonial washing of the feet, a symbol of their humility and willingness to serve each other in love.
Eva also noted that a significant moment of the wedding ceremony for her was the fact that her father, who had been estranged from the Church for decades, was moved to attend Confession and receive the Eucharist at his daughter’s wedding. The couple noted that the touching moment was emotional for the whole family, who had prayed for Eva’s father’s conversion for years.
As their relationship has deepened, so has their shared faith.
They continue to pray together, attend Mass regularly, and grow spiritually side by side. Christopher remarked that the best part of marriage so far has been continuing to grow in their friendship for each other, and being able to spend every day in each other’s “true presence.”
Their faith has played a significant role in overcoming the hurdles that all couples face in relationships.
By surrendering their struggles to God, they found the strength to support each other during vulnerable moments. Still, they allow each other space to practice their faith individually and foster their own personal relationships with God.
Christopher said that the best part of marriage is being with his best friend every day. “I think we all yearn to be known,” he remarked. “I think ultimately the only one who can truly know us is God, but it’s hard to be tangibly relational with God. So, He has given us the gift of marriage where you are with another human being who gets to know you and love you. I think the most beautiful thing about marriage is to know and be known, and to love in that place.”
Christopher and Eva's love story is a powerful testament to the beauty of shared faith in a relationship.
Their journey, from two strangers on an online dating platform to a happily married couple, shows that when two souls come together with God at the center of their lives, they can overcome any obstacle and build a strong and meaningful relationship.
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