Twelve and a half weeks. That is how long Jonathan and Emilee had been officially dating when he proposed – and she said YES!
To some, the timeline might seem impossibly fast. But to them, it felt inevitable. Their relationship unfolded with clarity, intention, and a sense of peace that only comes when God’s plan unfolds.
He was tired of secular apps treating people like products.
So, Jonathan downloaded CatholicMatch. The decision would change his life.
After reconnecting with his faith following years away, he felt called to approach dating differently. “I had recently reverted to the faith that Lenten season after being away from the faith for many years,” he shared.
“I had used other online dating apps years prior and was left disappointed with their rampant cash-grab nature.” He said that CatholicMatch’s faith-focused platform felt more genuine and like a true matchmaking service, rather than transactional.
While browsing profiles, Jonathan came across Emilee’s and felt immediately drawn to the sincerity and depth of faith reflected there. One of the things he appreciated most about CatholicMatch was how naturally it allowed faith to be expressed openly and unapologetically. Conversations about prayer, parish life, and spiritual habits weren’t awkward additions — they were the foundation.
Emilee’s bio clearly reflected how faith was the foundation of her life. He was especially impressed by her work as the Donations Coordinator at the Newman Center at North Dakota State University. She kept a standing weekly Eucharistic Adoration hour and was deeply involved in parish life, which would set the precedent for the couple’s first date.
He drove 250 miles through the night to meet her.
After four weeks of messaging exclusively through CatholicMatch and then another four weeks talking on the phone, they decided to meet in person.
Jonathan had to get up at midnight to make the long drive and be on time for their early morning first date. He drove through the night from Minnesota so he could arrive in Emilee’s hometown by 6 a.m. for her weekly hour of Eucharistic Adoration.
Their first morning together was infused with God’s peace and a shared sense of faith. They prayed together quietly before the Blessed Sacrament, placing the relationship in God’s hands from the very beginning. After Adoration, they sat in the car, shared donuts, listened to music, and talked until Emilee had to leave for work. From the very beginning, domesticity felt effortless.
After that, things moved quickly.
The connection felt real and unmistakable. Yet one challenge remained: the distance that separated them. While Jonathan lived in Minnesota, Emilee lived and worked in North Dakota, close to her family and her parish community.
“I began to search for an apartment there,” Jonathan said. At about fifteen weeks into their relationship — still early by most standards — he began moving into an apartment there. The move required courage and clarity. It meant leaving his base in the Twin Cities and starting fresh in Fargo.
The decision carried even more weight given his personal dating history. Emilee represented Jonathan’s first serious relationship in seven years. During that time, he had chosen patience over pressure and waited until he felt truly prepared to love well. When he met Emilee, the past no longer seemed to matter, and everything aligned perfectly.
They were engaged within 6 months of meeting!
After just 12 official weeks of courtship, Jonathan proposed. He planned a simple date that reflected who they were together. They spent time at the gun range, shared a meal at a local diner, and talked as they always did.
He had asked her father for permission back in early September. “She knew it was coming for a while ahead of time,” he admitted. Emilee had asked him to wait until after her busy season at work. The first good opportunity came a few days later.
Jonathan knew her personality well by then. “Emilee is more of an introvert, so I kept the proposal low-key.” The day reflected who they were as a couple — relaxed, comfortable, and authentically themselves. They spent the day hanging out together, went to the gun range, and later had supper at their favorite local spot.
When Jonathan asked Emilee to be his bride on November 16, she said yes without hesitation.
On June 21, before family and friends, they were officially married.
Looking back, the couple says they can clearly see God’s hand in the timing.
What may appear rushed from the outside felt steady and grounded from within. With their relationship built on a foundation of prayer, clear intentions, honest communication, and shared faith from the very beginning, the timeline made perfect sense to them.
Their story serves as a reminder that God delights in working through ordinary moments offered with trust – a midnight drive; a quiet hour of Eucharistic Adoration; a sincere conversation. When faith leads the way, God transforms small acts of obedience into a lifetime of love.
