Paul: Although I don't remember the exact date, it was the summer of 2023, and I was doing what I usually did on Sundays: working at Holy Family Home as a hospice nurse, and then heading to the Catching Fire young adult group meeting at 7pm. Most of my life revolved around these two things, and it seemed like that is where God wanted me to be. The Catching Fire meeting on that particular evening went well, and we finished the night with communal prayer. I made my usual rounds, saying hi to my friends and chatting for a bit. At one point, I was walking by the drinking fountain in the Parish Center when I saw Olivia! I hadn't seen her in a while. We had been part of the same reading group in the late summer of 2022, but it had been a while since we talked. Our history goes back even further than the reading group, though… Olivia: As Tobit prepares to meet his soon-to-be wife, the angel Raphael tells him, “Do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed” (Tobit 6:18). In many ways, this seems to apply to Paul's and my relationship as well, for God had planned to bring us together long before either of us had the slightest idea that we would marry someday. Paul and I went to the same school (Assumption Academy), served in the same Church (Church of the Assumption), and played in the same school band. We even grew up within 15 minutes of each other in Broadview Heights. Paul was two years ahead of me in school, however, so in typical grade-school fashion, that meant we never really talked to each other. I just knew Paul as the nice student with a buzz cut, glasses, and braces. This is how things were until… …the summer before my junior year of high school. My family ran into the Gnatowski’s after Mass, and I was shocked to see that Paul was no longer a little kid with glasses and braces (though he has maintained the buzz cut!). We saw each other a few more times at the 11:00am Regina Health Center Mass, and I have to admit that someone who loved the elderly, went to Mass on a weekday, and treated others with such respect was rather attractive. During Holy Week, Paul was sure to be serving all the Masses. Holy and handsome as Paul was, however, we were both discerning consecrated life. Paul joined the Benedictines, I continued my studies at Hillsdale College, and that was that.

Fast forward to the summer of 2022. By this time, Paul had discerned out of the Benedictine order, and I had decided to defer joining the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament until after graduate school. God providentially answered two desires on my heart (to start a Catholic young adult reading group and to read papal encyclicals) through an invitation to join Paul’s papal encyclical reading group! Given that I still planned on joining the Mercedarians, I thought this would be a good chance to get to know Paul better and finally realize that we would be better off as just friends…. Alas, that’s definitely not what happened. The more I came to know Paul, the more I cared about him. He was so thoughtful and patient with the group members. Whenever someone shared a half-baked thought (ahem, me), he found a way to affirm them and make their response sound intelligent. Paul’s own comments revealed his methodical, reflective mind. He was funny, too, and if you’ve ever heard Paul laugh, you know it’s almost impossible to keep from joining in. One of the aspects of Paul which struck me the most, however, was the way in which he looked at people. Most people are too busy texting, posting, or multi-tasking to really look each other in the eyes. Not so with Paul. When it was someone’s turn to share, Paul looked at that person as if he or she were the only person in existence. Never before had I witnessed a gaze of such deep tenderness and attentiveness. Above all, I knew that Paul loved God. Paul wasn’t just another Catholic guy who said all the right holy stuff to impress people. Paul’s words, but more importantly, his actions, showed that God was everything to him. For the first time in my life, I wanted God to call me to the vocation of marriage. Paul: During that reading group, we enjoyed discussing papal encyclicals from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Olivia was a graduate student at the Augustine Institute, and she had just finished her first academic year. Olivia wouldn't say this, because she is too humble, but she was basically our "in-house Scripture scholar," and she always had astute insights that piqued everyone's interest. Little did Olivia know (or maybe she did), she also struck me (in a good way) during that group. On one occasion, Olivia invited some members of our reading group to brainstorm ideas for a Catching Fire Pro-Life group. Olivia had also asked me before if I would be willing to share more with her about my discernment regarding vocation (basically how God was working in my life), especially since I had been in formation with the Benedictines. I agreed, and we decided to talk after the meeting. Just as the meeting ended, a thunderstorm rolled in, and Olivia and I sought shelter under the St. Columbkille School canopy entranceway. As we waited for the storm to pass, Olivia asked me some good and deep questions, and we ended up talking for probably over an hour, though it did not feel that long. During that conversation, I shared about my discernment with the Benedictines. I also shared that I had started dating someone else. Olivia and I finished talking, and the thunderstorm passed, and we went our separate ways. That conversation, however, always stuck with me. I was very moved by Olivia's willingness to listen to me. Olivia was a special lady. Olivia: When Paul shared that he was dating another young lady, I was crushed. Still, I asked God to help me surrender to His will, and I prayed for Paul and his girlfriend’s relationship nearly every day. A few months later, I almost joined the Mercedarians before realizing that God was not calling me to that amazing order. Over the next year, God healed many wounds related to vocation and marriage. If Paul hadn’t chosen to date another young lady instead of me, I would not have learned these important lessons. Then and now, I am deeply grateful to God for His timing.

Paul: Fast forward to that summer Sunday evening in 2023, and there she was! I was excited to see Olivia, and we both said hi. Olivia was wearing a lovely blue dress, and she was her kind, intelligent, and joyful self. My mind was moving fast, and I was ready to catch up with her. At this point, I was now single and wanted to be open to God's Will, and it was very good to see her. Unfortunately, however, our conversation was brief, and once again, we went our separate ways: Olivia left for Denver, and I re-focused on the two things my life revolved around: Catching Fire and Holy Family Home. Olivia: To be fair, although I still cared deeply about Paul, I ended the conversation quickly because I thought he was still dating the young lady! Paul: Several months went by, the Cleveland weather cooled, and it was Thanksgiving time. I was beginning to accept the fact that perhaps God wanted me to focus on Catching Fire (and Church discipleship in general) and Holy Family Home, not just temporarily, but for the rest of my life. However, something happened during November of 2023: I providentially learned that Olivia would be home from Denver during Thanksgiving time. Although our previous conversation in the Summer of 2023 was cut short, perhaps we could resume that conversation where it left off? I invited Olivia to Panera Bread to catch up, and we had an enjoyable time. Olivia even bought a cookie for me since it was my birthday! Olivia called me later during the week and asked for clarification: "Was that a date?" I told Olivia that it was not a date, but I wanted to catch up with her "as friends." Olivia: Yes, because people who want to be “just friends” totally continue to discuss their mutual love for Irish and Scottish music for another hour… Paul: Olivia soon headed back to Denver to finish the semester, and I continued working at Holy Family, in addition to participating in young adult ministry. When Olivia came back home for Christmas break, I asked her to 8:30am Mass at Assumption. And again, no, this was not a date, but after Mass, I was ready to pop the question: "would you like to go on a date with me?" Olivia accepted, and we went on our first unofficial date after Mass that morning, to Royal Breakfast in Broadview Heights. We enjoyed ourselves quite a bit. A few days later, we went on our first official date to Olive Garden. And on December 30th 2023, before Christmas break ended, after another 8:30am Mass at Assumption, I asked Olivia if she would be my girlfriend, and she said yes! The next year and a half consisted of many phone conversations, FaceTime dates (Scattegories, PowerPoint Presentations, movies, reading books, cooking meals), and in-person get togethers when Olivia was home from Denver. I was also fortunate to visit Olivia several times in Denver, staying with the Farris family (which Olivia graciously organized), and sitting in on her middle school classes at St. Therese Catholic Classical School (special thanks to Olivia's former principal, Mr. Vaughan, for making that possible!). It was a blessing to see that part of Olivia's life: her students, her community (both St Therese Parish and Holy Protection Byzantine Parish), and the beautiful state of Colorado (Cherry Creek State Park, Estes Park, Colorado Springs). On a funny note, I usually flew Frontier Airlines for many of these trips, and I usually took the "red eye" flight back to Cleveland - leaving Denver at midnight, flying to Atlanta, and then arriving in Cleveland around 8am. It was awesome discovering that the Atlanta Airport has a Tabernacle (approved by the Archdiocese) with the Eucharist reposed inside! Olivia: Although long-distance dating was difficult, I know Paul would agree that it taught us perseverance and communication skills!

Paul: On Holy Saturday (April 19th), 2025, at Assumption Church in Broadview Heights, I asked Olivia to marry me, and she said "yes!" Olivia: After 16 months of growing in friendship and love for one another, Paul asked me to marry him! This was not exactly a surprise because we had spoken about engagement and our views on various marriage topics for months. It also was a bit of a give away when Paul inadvertently shared that he had bought a ring, put on a suit, and choked up during the opening prayer for the Stations of the Cross! Surprised or not, I gave a joyful “Yes!” to my dear Paul. The engagement period has been quite a ride! From financial planning and buying a house for the first time (which we will live in together after we are married), to planning a wedding and navigating family dynamics, there have been some ups and downs. Let’s just say you can thank our parents for the fact that you will be eating Brennan’s catering in a beautiful reception hall instead of Olive Garden in a school gym! Through it all, though, we know that God is with us, and we have grown as a couple. Paul: I am very grateful to Jesus for the gift of Olivia, the gift that she is to her family, friends, students, everyone she encounters, and me. She loves the Lord with her whole heart and soul, and she loves her neighbor as herself. I am excited for our marriage, and I am also grateful to all our family and friends who have helped us along the way. Olivia: On June 13, God-willing, I will have the honor of marrying my best friend, my beloved, my fellow saint-in-the-making –my dear Paul. Our lives will truly become one. Please pray for us; we are praying for you! The title of this section is “Our Story,” and it is “our” story: Paul’s, mine, and God’s. Paul & Olivia: St. Joseph and St. Therese, pray for us!