Long before Linda and Bud ever exchanged messages, their lives had already been shaped by decades of love, loss, and faith formation.
Through CatholicMatch, God drew them together across 1,400 miles, offering each of them a second chance at love—one rooted in faith, companionship, and His perfect timing.
They each had two different dating ideals...
Linda was married for 50 years before she lost her husband over seven years ago. Bud is also a widower, married for 52 years with multiple children and grandchildren. Their parallel histories shaped in both of them a deep understanding of commitment, loss, and enduring love.
When it came to dating again, they approached it differently, shaped by where they were emotionally and spiritually in that season of life.
Bud joined the app searching for a spouse. He had already seen CatholicMatch work through a friend and approached it with clarity and intention.
“I was ready for a relationship,” he said. “I was looking for a permanent partner.”
Linda, by contrast, approached the idea with caution. Hoping simply for companionship, she noticed a CatholicMatch ad in her parish bulletin that sparked her interest.
“I was unsure about online dating,” Linda admitted. But reassurance from a trusted deacon, who shared that his own daughter had found love on the platform, helped ease her concerns.
At the time, she envisioned meeting a local man to attend Mass with and share life’s quieter moments, never expecting how completely those plans would change.
Six months of messaging —and then a 1,400-mile leap!
Their first impressions reflected both curiosity and contrast, revealing how differently they initially viewed the possibility of what might unfold between them.
“I could tell he was educated and a family man,” Linda said, drawn to the steadiness she saw in his profile.
“She was gorgeous,” Bud said. “She was exactly what I was looking for in a wife.”
Instead of rushing to meet, they spent six months corresponding, building a foundation through conversation, shared values, and a growing sense of familiarity that neither could quite explain.
That foundation made one bold decision feel surprisingly natural.
Bud got in his car and drove from Arizona to California for their very first date, covering nearly 1,400 miles to meet a woman he met online.
They met at a pizza parlor in Linda’s hometown. There, it became clear that their connection was profound.
“Conversation flowed easily,” they said. “It was obvious we were enjoying being together.”
By the end of that night, Bud’s certainty had only deepened.
“I realized at the end of the first date that I wanted a serious relationship with Linda,” he said. “She was ‘the one.’”
Linda felt the connection too, but her perspective remained grounded in practicality.
“I liked him immediately,” she said, “but I didn’t think we’d have a relationship because of the distance.”
They started finishing each other’s sentences.
As their relationship developed, Linda and Bud discovered that they were remarkably aligned, as though God had been quietly preparing them for each other all along.
“Almost immediately, we could finish each other’s sentences,” they said, pointing to their shared morals, virtues, political views, and faith.
Even small moments reflected that harmony.
“There were times we would independently order the exact same menu item,” they laughed. “We had a good laugh each time.”
Their joy became so visible that even strangers noticed.
“People would approach us and say how happy we looked together,” they recalled, a testament to the ease and delight they found in one another.
Linda admired his character as much as his presence.
“I admire his integrity, positivity, and humor—and he’s darn cute,” she said.
Bud, in turn, never hesitated to express his admiration.
“She’s gorgeous and has the nicest demeanor,” he said. “She is truly a kind person.”
Distance was actually not a barrier for them.
At first glance, the logistics of their relationship seemed impractical, with more than 1,000 miles separating their lives. Yet, what appeared to be an obstacle soon revealed itself as providence.
Both had experienced long marriages before losing their spouses, Linda after 50 years and Bud after 52, shaping in them a deep understanding of love, loss, and commitment.
Both had also journeyed into the Catholic Church from Episcopalian backgrounds, discovering a shared spiritual language that would anchor their relationship.
“We truly believe it was God’s plan for us to be together,” they said.
Even the distance began to shift in unexpected ways.
After his wife’s passing, Bud had already planned a move to Arizona. His plans seemed to align perfectly with meeting Linda. His new home would be within driving distance of Linda’s home—a detail that felt anything but coincidental.
“Hmmm, a coincidence?” they reflected. “We think not.”
Faith quickly became the center of their time together.
Both Episcopal converts to the Catholic Church, they carry a shared reverence for faith that serves as an anchor for their relationship.
“We attended Mass every Sunday and sometimes daily Mass,” they shared.
Before their engagement, a deacon offered them a blessing after Mass, a moment they still describe as deeply filled with grace.
“We felt God’s presence in that blessing,” they said.
Now, they're building a life that is fully rooted in God’s timing.
As their relationship deepened, Linda and Bud embraced both the joys and challenges of building a shared life, always returning to a simple phrase that grounded them.
“‘All in God’s timing,’” they would say whenever obstacles arose.
They faced real challenges, including navigating family concerns and the complexities of designing and building a home together, yet each moment strengthened their unity rather than dividing it.
“Daily expressions of affection are important,” they shared, drawing from the wisdom of their previous marriages and a renewed commitment to love intentionally.
Their engagement brought moments of joy and playfulness, especially as they took dance lessons in preparation for their wedding.
“We looked forward to the lessons,” they said. “They were fun and intimate.”
Their wedding celebration reflected both faith and home, as they hosted their reception in their newly built house, where a deacon blessed each room in the presence of their guests.
Now married, they continue to grow in faith side by side, participating actively in parish life, discussing Scripture daily, and encouraging one another in their spiritual journeys.
“I love being her husband,” Bud said.
“I love the way he makes me feel special each day,” Linda added.
Trust God—He knows the ending...
Looking back, Linda and Bud see a story shaped not by chance, but by intention, prayer, and a willingness to remain open to something more than they originally sought.
Their advice to other Catholic singles reflects that same clarity and conviction.
“Don’t be stingy with your profile,” they said. “Let it tell your story.”
More importantly, they emphasize the role of faith in discerning a relationship that lasts.
“When it comes to faith, don’t be timid in expressing your desires and expectations,” they shared. “It must be a close match for happiness.”
What began as a search for companionship—and a willingness to try something new—became a love story marked by joy, alignment, and unmistakable grace.
