Danika grew up in a very strong, active Catholic family. Her love of God and her faith compelled her to dedicate four and a half years discerning the religious life. After coming to the conclusion that she did not have a religious vocation, she spent time in prayer trying to determine if she had a vocation to marriage.
Once she started to feel that God was calling her to the married life, she began to consider
joining CatholicMatch. “I had heard of CatholicMatch from friends and I felt this would be a great path to take. I knew I wanted to find someone with the same beliefs, but also someone who had a great love for God above all other loves,” she says.
Even though Danika, 29, had never imagined herself being a part of the online dating scene, she took the leap of faith and paid for a membership. “Within a week of officially joining, Luke, (26), and I came across each other on CatholicMatch, on Feb. 27, 2012.”
They were instantly drawn to one another. Among many other things, Danika was impressed that Luke was a member of the Knights of Columbus. “Knights of Columbus are in my family tree. My grandpa, my uncles, my dad, and my brother-in-law are all Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.”
Danika and Luke chatted often, and both were counting down the days until they would finally meet in person. Luke was from Sioux Falls, S.D. and Danika was living two hours away in Spencer, Iowa.
Their first meeting, a little over three weeks later, on March 22, confirmed their initial attraction was the real thing. “The very first moment we met in person, we gave each other a big bear hug. There was no awkwardness; it felt natural.” It also felt natural for them to pray together, so
before parting, they prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet together.
They continued getting to know each other long distance and in person as often as they could, which included attending Mass together. Danika was really attracted to how Luke loved his Faith and how respectful he was of women. “I felt that I had truly met a Catholic gentleman. We not only fell in love with each other’s personality but with each other’s hearts.”
Another wonderful aspect of their relationship was that they were bringing each other closer to Our Lady and the Holy Trinity. As their relationship developed, Danika decided it was time to move to Sioux Falls to be closer to Luke.
Two and half years later, Luke proposed to her at McKennan Park in Sioux Falls—it was the location of their first date. It was a family affair with both sets of parents there to join in their happiness. “The engagement ring is my grandma’s first wedding ring. She passed away a couple of months ago and I was very close to her.”
The couple will be married on July 11 at Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer, Iowa. Danika reveals some of the personal touches she has planned for their wedding. She says her bride’s maids will wear shades of blue because it’s Luke and Danika’s favorite color and because they want to honor Our Lady. “The bridesmaids I have chosen represent each vocation I lived. The maid of
honor is my little sister, Sister Teresa Immaculate, who is a Religious Sister in the Community of St. Jean (John) in France—she will be wearing her grey habit. The other members of the bridal party are my big sister, who is married and has four kids, and my friend, who is living the vocation of the single life.
Another personal touch planned is that her father and her little sister will be leading the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song right before the wedding.
Danika says she can't wait to marry the love of her life and her best friend and to continue on their faith journey together. “Meeting each other is such a blessing. Luke and I have always agreed that it was God who put us together and He who is the center of our relationship."
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