#TheSaintsGoMarchingIn & #StHilairesRyderDie

David began working for the Knights of Columbus after graduating from Benedictine College in 2015. Little did he know, working for the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world would lead to him meeting his future wife four years later when she began working three cubicles away. After walking by Emma's cubicle a number of times, David finally stopped by, said hello, and introduced himself. About two months later, after several cafeteria lunches, David made the first move - responding to Emma's Instagram story. After a week or so of texting one another, David and Emma went on their first date at Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale in New Haven.

David and Emma were spending two weeks in Nebraska to visit the St. Hilaire family and celebrate a few birthdays, including America's! Emma mentioned to David that they were overdue for a sushi date, which was just the excuse David needed to make her think going out for lunch on July 4th was her idea. David began the date in Lincoln with a tour of Memorial Stadium - Go Huskers! Emma was suspicious and looking at his pockets to see if she could spot a ring box. After all, wouldn't this Nebraska boy want to propose at one of his favorite spots in the state? Emma was wrong. They went to lunch and David asked her, "Have you ever seen bison and elk in person?" "Yes, I think so," she said, "at the zoo." "Oh, well there's a park in Lincoln that we can go to and walk around and see them if you want." So they went to Pioneer's Park, where John Paul and Daniel (David's brothers) were securing the location and preparing to capture the moment on camera. On the way there, David nearly had a heart attack after Emma spotted an Apple Roofing truck and thought, "Oh is that JP?" Thankfully it was not. They arrived at the park and walked down the path toward a lake and Greek-style pillars. As they approached this location, David asked Emma what her favorite date they had been on was. She told him when they went to Longhorn Steak House and the movies because that was when she realized she was in love with him. She threw the question back and David said, "Well, I don't know, we haven't been on many dates." Then asked her, "So you still want to marry me?" She nervously replied, "Yes..." David said, "Well that's convenient since I brought you here... "OH MY GOSH!" Emma interjected. "...to tell you how much I love you and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. *Gets down on one knee* Will you marry me?" Clearly, Emma said YES!

David and Emma are getting married at the second oldest Catholic parish in Connecticut on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Founded in 1868, St. Mary's Church sits on Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, CT. Blessed Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in the church basement in 1882. 139 years later, the Knights of Columbus has grown to be the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world with over 2 million members worldwide. David is the past grand knight of the Rev. Michael J. McGivney Council 10705 at St. Mary's, and as you read above - he and Emma met while working at the Supreme Headquarters of the Knights of Columbus just down the road. Blessed Michael McGivney is buried inside St. Mary's. David and Emma are thrilled to exchange their wedding vows in the presence of America's most recent Blessed! We're also excited that the Most Rev. William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus will be the main celebrant of our Nuptial Mass!