It was April of 2024 when the mother of Monica (matron of honor), Carol, heard about The Walk to Mary. Monica and her mom are very close to Jess and knew she was discerning whether to stay in a relationship. Jess got a text from Monica on April 6th saying, "My mom wanted me to tell you about this-walk to Mary on May 4th. Good time to pray for a future spouse! Some lady on Relevant Radio went and met someone two years ago and they're having a baby now!" A pilgrimage walk would be the perfect time for prayer and reflection about a relationship. Three days later, Jess was signed up for the walk. She told her partner that she needed a month break and then journeyed to Green Bay, WI with her dad. The Walk to Mary is a 22-mile pilgrimage from the Shrine of St. Joseph to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion (the only Marian apparition site in the United States). Thousands gathered at Old St. Joe's Church to begin the walk. As the crowd funneled from the church parking lot to the sidewalks of the city, Jess found her walking pace. What she didn't expect to find was someone else who had the exact same walking pace. Eventually, a conversation was struck up with this “stranger,” who she came to know as Brian. Conversation was friendly and prayerful. After all, Jess was technically in a relationship. They walked together until the last seven miles, where Jess met up with her dad. It was a quick goodbye for the two of them, with no exchange of contact information. Truly, they both thought they would never see each other again. Unbeknownst to Jess, she had made quite the impression on Brian, who was beside himself following the walk after failing to ask for her number. An entire year went by, filled with individual growth for Jess and Brian. They arrived to the walk as singles the following year without any expectations, but hoping against all odds that they might see each other again. Jess remembered what Carol and Monica told her, so she wrote an intention for a "good Catholic husband” on a piece of paper and dropped it in front of St. Joseph's statue at his Shrine. Stepping out of the church and waiting for the walk to begin, she looked up at the sky and said a little prayer: “God, it would be so cool to find that guy again from last year to walk with. If it's Your will, I'll find him. If not, I have plenty of people to pray for while I walk alone.” As she lowered her gaze, she froze. She felt her heart leap as she saw Brian standing 30 feet in front of her. Brian saw Jess just a few minutes before as she was walking out of the Church. He knew he couldn't let her get lost in the crowd. As soon as the walk commenced, he approached her and they picked up right where they left off the year prior. This time, Brian made sure to ask for Jess's number before she met up with her dad at the end of the Walk. The two have been dating ever since. Jess and Brian knew that God had prepared them for one another in marriage shortly after beginning their courtship. It's no surprise that a proposal came seven months later. On Dec 13th, 2025, Jess was visiting Brian in Green Bay. They spent the afternoon visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, as they often do. It was a frigid one degree (-18 degree windchill) outside that winter day, but it didn't stop them from walking the beautiful grounds of the Shrine where they first met. It was there that Brian proposed. Feeling extremely grateful to Mary and Joseph for bringing them together in such a miraculous way, they prayed a big prayer of thanksgiving to the Blessed Mother at the apparition site. Usually, the Shrine is filled with visitors, but when they walked down the Shrine's steps, everyone cleared out and they got a private audience with Our Lady. What a way to start an engagement! What started as a solo pilgrimage has ended in a love story written by the Divine Matchmaker. While the 22-mile walk has ended, these two have just begun walking into forever, guided by their faith and love for one another.