When Christopher created his CatholicMatch profile, he wasn’t searching for excitement or novelty. At 43, he was a father of three from Dexter, Missouri, navigating the aftermath of a contentious divorce, ongoing family-law proceedings, and the uncertainty of life during the pandemic. His hesitation wasn’t about online dating—it was about whether he was genuinely ready to move forward after everything he had endured.
“My biggest hesitation wasn’t CatholicMatch,” Chris has said. “It was moving forward with my life.”
Encouragement came from a close friend, Kris, who urged him to remain open—to trust that God might still have good things in store, even after heartbreak and loss.
At the same time, Megan, 35, raised in St. Louis, was on CatholicMatch for an apparent and intentional reason. She wasn’t casually browsing. She was looking for a relationship grounded in faith, sincerity, and shared values. When she came across Chris’s profile, something stood out. She took the time to like all his photos, especially his travel pictures, wanting him to know she had truly read and considered who he was.
Chris noticed immediately.
Her attentiveness and thoroughness left an impression even before they spoke.
They began messaging in December of 2020 and met for the first time on New Year’s Eve 2020, during a season marked by uncertainty and isolation. Because of COVID-19, they spent about a month getting to know one another through messages before meeting in person—a slower pace that ultimately shaped the tone of their relationship.
Chris was initially drawn to Megan’s warmth and presence. Over time, he’s come to appreciate her steadiness, compassion, and the peace she brings into his life. For Megan, Chris stood out as sincere, intentional, and deeply family-oriented. She appreciated his integrity, faith, and devotion to his children.
Their first meeting took place at The Underground, a small coffee shop along the riverfront in Washington, Missouri, where they now live. Chris still remembers Megan approaching in her bright white coat—calm, confident, and at ease. Their first official dinner date followed at the Hawthorn Inn Restaurant in Labadie, where conversation came naturally.
There was an immediate attraction, but both were careful and intentional. Each carried responsibilities, past experiences, and a desire not to rush something meant to be lasting.
That care proved essential. While working on his doctorate, Chris was laid off twice and lost a contract job, forcing him to piece together transitional work while figuring out how to provide for his family and reposition himself for full-time teaching. Just months after meeting Megan, his father passed away. Megan, too, was navigating profound loss—one of her closest childhood friends died the day before Chris’s father—and she underwent multiple surgeries during their courtship. “We faced grief, uncertainty, and long periods of waiting, relying on faith and communication,” Megan recalled.
Megan had the difficult task of gaining the trust of Chris’s children, too.
Chris has three children from his previous marriage, and both he and Megan were deeply intentional about protecting their emotional well-being. “I focused on showing up consistently while respecting boundaries,” she stated. Megan met the children after six months of dating. She joined them for ice cream, a movie, and a day of games. She slowly transitioned to attending soccer games, going over in the evening for dinner, and helping with homework. This pattern continued throughout dating and engagement. She never rushed the process, focusing instead on consistency, respect, and trust.
Not every challenge was heavy. Some became cherished stories—like a fishing trip to Lake Norfork in the Arkansas Ozarks that turned into a dawn boat switch in the middle of the lake involving feuding fishing guides with decades of animosity. The chaos ended with laughter, successful fishing, and a memory the couple still retells with amusement. As Chris recalled:
“We decided to head to the lake for some striper fishing. We booked a guide and boat for the day and met at the rendezvous point at the designated time, only to discover our guide had left with another guide’s clients. This clientless guide insisted we go with him. Needless to say, the clientless guide came much less recommended than the guide we were supposed to be with. To make things even more interesting, these two guides had 30 years of animosity between them, including court battles and game-warden arrests.
To put it mildly, we were immediately disgusted by our new guide and insisted on finding our original guide. We called him, and he decided to see us in the middle of the lake at dawn with his unsuspecting clients in tow. At our insistence, he teamed up with his arch-guiding nemesis and had Megan and me switch boats, while the other clients had to go with the curmudgeonly boat captain, much to our delight and their chagrin. These two guides’ sordid past was immediately on display, and the animosity was clear and convincing. We safely switched boats after the guides threatened and consoled each other, exchanging bars and insults for several minutes. We followed the guide’s instructions and had a successful fishing trip, and I swore Megan would never return to Arkansas again.”
In time, Chris knew he wanted to marry Megan.
He chose Robller Winery in New Haven, Missouri, as the place to propose. He discreetly handed the engagement ring to the bartender, who hid it inside one of the wine flight cups.
“When the flight came out, Megan found the ring,” Chris recalls. “Her hands were shaking. She needed only a few seconds—but then she said yes.” “The proposal was unexpected and emotional,” Megan stated, “and I joyfully said yes.”
They were married on June 17, 2023, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Washington, Missouri, with Father Jim Theby officiating. Their reception followed at Pine Hollow Farms in Eureka, planned with the help of Plan-It-Terra. Guests were even greeted by a Clydesdale brought by JFP Equine, adding a memorable touch to the celebration.
Today, Chris and Megan describe the highlights of married life as companionship, shared purpose, and the quiet peace of building a home together. The challenges remain real, but they face them as a team—grounded in faith, patience, and mutual respect.
For those hesitant to try CatholicMatch, their advice is simple: remain open.
Trust God’s timing. Be willing to be vulnerable. Sometimes love doesn’t arrive quickly or dramatically—but carefully, intentionally, and exactly when it’s meant to.
