a match made in Heaven

In the Spring of 2024, Chris found himself searching for graduate schools in Texas. He had been accepted and planned a trip to visit TCU. Before leaving, he decided to altar serve one last time at the UIC Newman Center. Although he began attending a different parish in the months following his college graduation, the Newman Center was his home during his university years: The place where he had found both his friends and his Faith. Miles away, in Mundelein, Bree was preparing to send-off for her younger brother, Anthony. Anthony, a friend to Chris when they attended the Newman Center together, was leaving to become a Catholic missionary in San Francisco. Although Bree was not actively looking to date anyone at the time, she had received the advice to pray to Saint Joseph to find a good future husband. The night Bree was given this counsel, she knelt down, and did just that. Chris decided that altar serving at the Easter Vigil would be a fitting goodbye. When preparing to leave, the thought crossed his mind to stay home: "It's kinda far, I'm tired. Should I just stay home this time? They'll have enough altar servers, right?" He brushed away the thought as he walked out the door and into the night. About an hour or two later, Chris had finalized the Mass preparations alongside his dear friend Anthony, Father Tim, and his fellow altar servers. The mood was bittersweet. In the door of the sacristy, Chris looked out at the flood of UIC students preparing to celebrate Mass in the sanctuary. It was there that he heard Anthony's girlfriend (now fiancée), Lauren, shout "Anthony, your family is here!" Chris turned and immediately noticed Bree as she stepped through the doors. The only thought that he could manage was "OH MY GOD, WHO IS THAT?!" Tita Grace, Bree's Aunt, would later share that this was the moment she knew that Chris was interested in Bree. Ashley, Bree's sister, spotted Chris first and leaned closer to her saying, "Bree, don't look there, you're gonna fall in love," as she motioned in his direction. Due to Bree's adventurous nature, she of course looked toward him and IMMEDIATELY agreed. As the visitors finalized their mingling, Chris left the sacristy and attempted to say goodbye to a few more friends. When Chris turned back, he found himself face-to-face with a blushing Bree. They shared a brief introduction before Chris was called in by the other altar servers to begin Mass. Although the two shared furtive glances at one another, they did not speak a word for the rest of the night, as Bree was with her family. After some chatter with Anthony's friends, Bree departed for home. She silently regretted not talking to Chris once more before "never again". Similarly, Chris felt his heart sink but figured it was for the best as he was preparing to leave for Texas. Once Bree's family left, Anthony stayed behind to attend a party at the missionaries' apartment. On the way to the party, Anthony mentioned to Chris that he thought he might make for a good pair with his sister. Chris STRONGLY agreed. That night, Chris got her number and reached out. The two spent a few days texting before Chris left to visit schools in Texas. Chris soon found out that the commitment date for his grad school was scheduled before his first date with Bree. Courageously, he declined all offers made to him from his prospective grad schools and decided to see where God was leading him. The first date solidified in both of their minds that this was something entirely special. Before their next date, Chris was cleaning out his room and found a prayer card to Saint Joseph which he placed in his phone wallet. On that second date, Chris showed the prayer card to Bree... It was then that Bree disclosed her pleading prayer to Saint Joseph the night before they had met. -- It did not take long for Chris to pop the question he had been hoping to ask since knowing Bree. She blushed like the first day they had met, said "yes," and the rest is history :)