They Lived One Mile Apart but CatholicMatch is What Brought Them Together!

“God’s timing is perfect,” Philip and Haley both agree when looking back on how they met.

Each of them had been single for a long time, wrestling with discouragement and wondering if marriage was part of God’s plan for them. Their journey wasn’t without heartache, but it was a path that ultimately led them to each other.

For Haley, the waiting had been difficult.

After experiencing several relationships that didn’t work out and facing the disheartening mismatch of values on secular dating apps, she reached a point where she was ready to step back entirely. The men she met on these apps didn’t share the depth of faith she sought, and this made her wonder if perhaps her call was to a single life.

She began to accept that marriage might not be her vocation, but she clung to her faith, believing that God had a plan, even if she couldn’t yet see it. In her low moments, she found herself called back to trust in God’s timing and to hold on to the hope that if marriage were in His plan, it would happen when the time was right.

Philip’s journey had its own struggles.

During college, he drifted away from his faith. When he came back to the church, he felt a deep conviction that his vocation was to marriage. This feeling led him to CatholicMatch, where he hoped to find a partner who shared his desire for a sacramental relationship.

Haley was at the point of almost deleting her profile after some disappointing experiences on secular dating apps. "I needed a breather from online dating," she remembers. But just as she was about to log off, Philip’s profile appeared. His interests in mathematics and yard work seemed to juxtapose each other, which caught her attention and made her laugh. She decided to reach out to him as a “last-ditch effort” before taking a break.

Philip saw Haley’s profile after she liked him, and they quickly matched. 

“I loved her freckles and the fact that she liked music,” he recalls.

Their first conversations were long and easy, and they soon realized they shared common values and dreams. Living less than a mile apart, they agreed to meet at a coffee shop for their first date. Their connection was immediate—they chatted for over three hours, closing down the café and already making plans for their next few dates. 

“I wouldn’t have met him without CatholicMatch, even though we live less than a mile from each other,” Haley reflects.

Faith played a profound role in Philip and Haley’s budding relationship. “Our faith is a very important guiding part of our life,” says Philip. Early on, Haley expressed her desire for a Christ-centered relationship, which resonated deeply with Philip. “It gave us a core to work with,” he says, adding that Haley’s commitment to her faith gave him “a sense of purpose and unity in pursuing a relationship with her.” 

As a convert, Haley shares that it was incredibly important for her to find someone who could pray with her and understand her values. “It felt lonely,” she admits. “All I wanted was someone to go to Mass with, to pray with, and to understand how I live my life.” Philip’s support and his own devotion were exactly what she had been waiting for.

Philip’s genuine interest in Haley’s church community only deepened her affection for him. He is now an active member of the Knights of Columbus at her parish, where they will be married in December.

Haley had been candid with Philip from the start about her life goals.

“I knew what I wanted—a husband and kids,” she says. “I was afraid of dating the wrong guy who would waste my time. So I told Philip, ‘Don’t waste my time.’”

On February 3rd, during Adoration, Philip surprised her with a proposal. “I wanted to do this in the presence of Jesus. Yes or no?” he asked her, presenting the ring. Haley began to cry as she said yes. 

One of their most memorable dates was a visit to the Japanese Garden. “It was such a fun cultural experience,” Haley remembers. Philip, who is Japanese, appreciated sharing this part of his heritage with her, and Haley looks forward to incorporating Japanese culture into their family traditions down the road. 

For Philip, some of his favorite memories are of spending holidays with Haley’s family, like her birthday celebration and Thanksgiving. He quickly felt accepted and valued by her family, even being included in their Christmas card.

They have also navigated big life changes together, from Philip’s graduation to his job search and their plans to move after marriage.

Haley appreciated Philip’s patience and kindness. "He just lets me be my own person; I have an independent streak. He leads everything with kindness.” Philip values Haley’s openness and acceptance. “She is consistently open to me and accepting of me, even on my bad days.”

Looking forward, they both hope to continue growing in their faith and building a Christ-centered family. “We want to prepare each other for sainthood and enter heaven together,” they say.