Elizabeth, 69, originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Scott, 68, originally from Denver, were drawn to CatholicMatch because they were both looking for a serious, faith-centered relationship with someone who truly valued Catholic marriage.
Neither of them had been married before, and at their stage of life, they were not interested in casual dating.
They wanted companionship, shared faith, friendship, and a future built on God and commitment. Elizabeth first turned to online dating because, as she admitted, her age made her search for a Catholic man with whom to start a serious relationship difficult.
She tried a local dating app in Brazil with no success before heading to CatholicMatch instead. Scott had known Anastasia Northrop, a CatholicMatch supporter, and also knew several people in his Catholic singles group at Church of the Risen Christ in Denver who had signed up for CatholicMatch. Scott was the one who ultimately made the first contact with Elizabeth.
Initially, they were both cautious about online dating.
They both wondered whether people would be sincere and whether meaningful relationships could really develop online. But over time, they discovered that genuine connection, honesty, and faith can absolutely grow through long-distance communication when both people are committed.
What first attracted them to each other was their shared Catholic faith, kindness, and sincerity. From their very first conversations, they felt a deep sense of peace and connection. They quickly realized that they shared many of the same values about marriage, prayer, family, and commitment.
Their first meeting happened after nearly three years of daily communication through CatholicMatch, phone calls, and prayer together every day. Even though they lived in different countries, prayer became part of their daily routine and helped them grow closer spiritually and emotionally. Scott then traveled from Denver to Rio de Janeiro to meet Elizabeth in person.
Before meeting, they both felt excited, nervous, and very hopeful...
Even after so much time talking online, there was still uncertainty before meeting face-to-face. But from the moment they met, everything felt natural and comfortable. They spent time exploring Rio together, talking, praying, and enjoying each other’s company. They immediately knew they wanted to continue building the relationship, so a second date was never a question.
One especially memorable moment was Scott’s second trip to Rio, when he spent Christmas and New Year’s with Elizabeth’s family. It was a beautiful moment of bringing their lives and families together across two cultures. After the holidays and another trip together, they decided on their wedding date before Scott returned to Denver.
They didn’t have a traditional proposal with a ring and a surprise.
Instead, after years of prayer and discernment together, they made the mutual and joyful decision to marry in the Catholic Church.
Their biggest challenge was the long distance between Brazil and the United States. The years they spent communicating online before meeting in person required patience, trust, consistency, and commitment.
There were also challenges related to international travel, cultural differences, language differences at times, and the process of preparing for marriage in the Catholic Church internationally. But because they were committed to prayer and honest communication, they were able to face those challenges together with patience and faith. They admit that adjusting to the practical realities of international life and long-distance family ties is still one of the hardest parts for them.
Their wedding took place on October 4th, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro.
One of the highlights was having both of their families together to celebrate their marriage after such a long journey. Another very special moment was celebrating their marriage in the Catholic Church after years of prayer, discernment, and preparation. Scott’s brother, Allen, served as his best man, which meant a great deal to them.
Now that they have known each other for several years, what they appreciate most is the way they support one another spiritually and emotionally. They still pray together every day, encourage each other, travel together, share daily routines, and genuinely enjoy being together after waiting so many years to find each other. They are grateful for the calm, mature, loving relationship they have built. They love each other deeply, and are grateful to CatholicMatch for bringing them together.
They are excited about building their future together, which includes adding a dog to their family and continuing to divide their time between Rio and Denver.
For any current CatholicMatch user, their advice is to be patient, don’t lose hope, and always pray to God through the intercession of the Archangel Raphael to help you. Meaningful relationships take time, especially when both people are serious about faith and marriage. Pray together from the beginning, communicate honestly, and allow the relationship to grow naturally.
Love can happen at any stage of life, and sometimes God’s timing is very different from our own.
