Our Story
Part 1: Denver
Before they met, Natalie, living in South Dakota, and Patrick, living in California, were both feeling a call to marriage. God placed on their hearts a nudge to move to Denver and work at Bishop Machebeuf High School. They individually made the decision to move to Denver on March 19, 2024, the Solemnity of St. Joseph.
Part 2: Meeting
On the first day of orientation in early August 2024, Patrick was starstruck when he saw Natalie. He agonized about when to ask her out or wondered if she liked him back. By mid-September, he could not resist the nudge to ask her out. After he asked her out, they both individually went to the Machebeuf chapel to pray in thanksgiving, overjoyed and excited for their first date.
Part 3: Dating
By October, Patrick had already expressed a desire to move forward. On October 16, Natalie and Patrick joyfully moved forward and began an official relationship. They were having so much fun, and by February, more serious talks had begun around marriage. Patrick was decided but had to continue patiently pursuing Natalie. By May, Patrick received clear confirmation that he not only desired to marry Natalie, but God was calling him to this vocation. In June, Natalie went on an 8-day silent retreat in Minnesota to discern whether to move forward with Patrick. He picked her up from the airport in Denver after midnight on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Before dropping her off at her house, they stopped at a chapel to say good night to Jesus. Kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Natalie turned to Patrick and said she had decided to marry him.
Part 4: Proposal
The next day, on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, they went ring shopping for the first time. They went again 2 days later, and the perfect ring caught their eyes. Patrick wanted to propose as soon as possible so he bought the ring the next day and had it ready in a week. He proposed on July 11th, 2025, at Natalie's childhood parish of St. Adrian in her hometown of Adrian, Minnesota, and they celebrated this joyful day with her family.
