It was a September evening when I met Eugénie, one of those moments you don’t realize is life-changing until you look back on it. The event was a young Catholic social held at McLaren’s, a local pool bar. It wasn’t exactly the place I expected to meet my future fiancé, but somehow, it worked. I walked in with a friend, just hoping for good conversation and a relaxed night. As soon as I saw her sitting with another girl, talking and laughing, I felt something shift. She stood out in a quiet, unmistakable way. There was a calm confidence about her that immediately caught my attention. I leaned over to my friend and said without hesitation, “Let’s go.” He gave me the look only a good wingman can give, part supportive, part skeptical, but he followed. We introduced ourselves and, to my surprise, the conversation started easily. It stayed easy. She was interested, poked fun, and laughed with us. We ended up talking for most of the evening about our faith, our lives, our values, and played a few rounds of pool along the way. As the night went on, it became clear to me that there was something special about her. She was thoughtful, articulate, and grounded. She listened deeply, and everything she said made me want to know more. When it was finally time to leave, I walked out of the bar with only one thought: I need to see her again. I texted her not long after, no waiting, no second-guessing, because I already knew I didn’t want that night to be the last. -Daniel Daniel and I met on the evening of September 15, 2024, at a young adult Catholic social held at McLaren’s, a pool bar on Elgin. I was looking forward to a fun evening and maybe a chance to chat with a few new people. I had just sat down with a friend when two guys came over to introduce themselves. With a kind smile, Daniel simply said, “Hi, my name’s Daniel,” and asked if he could sit beside me. There was something about his calm, genuine presence that immediately put me at ease. His friend joined us, and the four of us began chatting. As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that Daniel and I were the ones really talking. The others chimed in here and there, but most of the time it felt like we were in our own little world asking questions, sharing stories, and listening closely to each other. At one point we played a few rounds of pool, but what stayed with me wasn’t the game; it was the connection. I remember thinking how rare it felt to speak with someone so present and sincere. I left that night with a quiet sense that something meaningful had started even if I couldn’t explain why. Not long after he messaged me with something simple, intentional, and kind. Somehow I already knew this was the beginning of something different. Looking back, it’s so clear that God was gently guiding our steps that night. What felt small in the moment became the start of something much bigger than I could have imagined. -Eugénie