When Danny, a widow from Peru, and Avelino, a recent widower from Miami, and met on CatholicMatch last spring, neither expected their shared faith would soon knit their hearts across thousands of miles.
Nor did they imagine their love story would bloom so beautifully after decades of marriage and individual losses...
The couple’s journey began on April 25, 2023, after Danny had been browsing CatholicMatch for five months and Avelino for just three weeks. Both widowed after decades of marriage, they each joined the site looking for companionship with like-minded individuals.
“I chose CatholicMatch because I’m a serious Catholic,” said Avelino, 57. “I wanted to connect only with someone who also took their faith seriously.”
Danny, also 57, was encouraged by her niece to join the site — not necessarily to find romance right away, but to make new friends.
Little did she know, the friend she was meant to find was just a click away!
She sent the first message to Avelino, drawn by his profile — particularly the mention of St. Martin de Porres, a Peruvian saint dear to her heart.
CatholicMatch’s profile feature allows users to seamlessly include a saint devotion as part of their profile, highlighting a particular saint they pray to or find helpful in their search for a partner. This was something Danny really appreciated about the dating platform and credits it for being one the reasons she noticed his profile so quickly.
“I have to tell you the truth — I don’t even remember putting him there,” Avelino confessed. However, it turned out the devotion came from Avelino’s mother, a heartfelt link bridging their worlds.
Their initial exchange was delayed; Avelino missed her message for three weeks due to a tonsillectomy. But once he replied, the connection sparked to life. Their first date took place when Danny was visiting family in the United States. They dined at a cozy Italian restaurant and quickly discovered they had more in common than just their faith. Her first name matched his middle name, they shared similar experiences as widowers, and they felt an easy, warm companionship.
“We got along fine, but there was no spark,” Avelino said. Yet, a few days later, he reached out again, eager to see her. That second date was different.
“All of a sudden, I looked at her and I knew,” he said.
From there, their story began to write itself, like a love song — literally. Avelino sent Danny a video of himself singing a love song, a bold move that almost scared her away but ultimately sealed their bond. “I was pretty sure we were going to be married,” he laughed.
Though he intended to wait a full year before proposing, the distance tugged at their hearts. When Danny returned to Peru, Avelino missed her deeply. Finally, during a visit after her trip, they went to their church for pre-Cana preparation — only for Avelino to realize he had never officially proposed! The priest’s question, “Are you freely entering into this marriage?” nudged Avelino to officially pop the question, right there.
Danny appreciated Avelino’s respect and connection with her parents, especially since she had not initially planned to leave Peru permanently. Now, Avelino is planning his first trip to Peru this summer to visit her and their growning, blended family.
Their wedding, held February 17, 2024, at St. Martin de Porres Church in Homestead, Florida, was a joyful celebration that welcomed family members from both sides. A Spanish Mass honored Danny’s heritage, while friends and family embraced the new chapter in their shared faith journey.
For those hoping to find love on CatholicMatch, Avelino offers the following heartfelt advice:
“Don’t be discouraged if there’s no spark on the first date. If the person is nice and the time is pleasant, consider a second date. That’s when sparks can fly.”
And on opening one’s heart again after loss, he shared some romantic advice:
“Don’t be afraid of letting love into your life. I was committed to being a permanent widower. When sparks flew, I almost ran. But I felt like an interesting story had just begun. I guess I could have stopped reading this love story — but I was too curious to see what happens in the rest of the story.”
