THE MOST ROMANTIC holiday of the year is here, and Orange County Catholic is ready to celebrate.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, four Orange County Catholic couples share how faith plays a role in their marriages. Along the way, the participants shared some words of wisdom about how to keep relationships strong and God close. Keep reading for their inspiring love stories.
TERESA AND MIKE MONETTE: MARRIED SINCE 2018
Long before exchanging vows at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, Teresa and Mike agreed that faith played a large part in their love story.
“Some of our first dates included visiting all the churches with Doors of Mercy in Los Angeles and driving from San Pedro to Monterey and back in one day while stopping at all the missions along the way,” Teresa recalled. “We were engaged on the feast of St. John Paul II. The date we met was the anniversary of his first visit to the United States. Clearly, he had his hand in things far before we even knew.”
Their faith journey continues as the pair begins to teach their young kids about God’s never-ending love.
“Marriage is not something you ‘figure out’ once and then master,” said Mike, a theology teacher at JSerra Catholic High School. “It is a vocation that invites growth, humility and grace over a lifetime. I think the most important thing is that you show up.”
Teresa added, “Be prepared for your prayer life to change with every season. All of it is beautiful and the Lord sees you and knows the desires of your heart. He doesn’t care if your prayer looks perfectly curated. He just wants to be in a relationship with you.”
CAROL AND JOHN HANSEN: MARRIED SINCE 1992
It’s hard for Carol and John to believe that it’s been nearly 34 years since they said “I do” at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Laguna Beach. If there is a secret behind more than three decades of marriage, both credit their shared Catholic faith.
CAROL AND JOHN HANSEN ENJOY A SUNDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERING AT SAN FRANCISCO SOLANO CATHOLIC CHURCH. PHOTO BY MIKE VULPO
“It’s everything,” John shared while volunteering as a Knights of Columbus member at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church. “It keeps me grounded, keeps her grounded and we keep coming back to church.”
More than 15 years ago, John went on a church retreat. Carol followed soon after, and it made their relationship even stronger.
“Our marriage blossomed,” Carol revealed. “For couples going through rough times, just stick with it. Don’t give up. Keep God at the center.”
MARITZA AND CHRIS “BERNIE” BERNARD: MARRIED SINCE 2007
When Maritza met Bernie, one of the first questions she asked was whether he was Catholic.
“He could tell how important it was to me and instantly answered, ‘Yes,’” Maritza recalled. “One month into dating, Bernie had a confession. He blurted out, ‘I am not Catholic. I am half Jewish. Actually, that is a lie too. I am 100 percent Jewish.’”
BERNIE AND MARITZA BERNARD POSE FOR A FAMILY PHOTO WITH THEIR FOUR CHILDREN. PHOTO BY KAELIN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Bernie later chose to convert to Catholicism and went through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) in hopes that their family could be united in one belief. After nearly 18 years of marriage, the couple remains stronger than ever as they raise four children attending San Francisco Solano Catholic Church.
“Our commitment to prayer, confession and attending Mass has strengthened our marriage, helped us teach our children the love of Jesus and carried us through some of our hardest moments,” Maritza said. “We still have so much to learn, but we love learning and living our faith together, and that has made our love story stronger than we ever imagined.”
For younger Catholic couples, Bernie and Maritza caution that marriage is not easy and nobody is perfect at it. There are, however, some helpful tips to make every season feel like Valentine’s Day.
“Put God at the center of your marriage,” the couple shared. “You are both imperfect, and mistakes will happen. When they do, be willing to say sorry, listen to each other, learn from them and try hard not to make the same mistake again. What did Jesus say? Forgive not seven times but 77 times.”
CHRIS AND MONICA FURMAN: MARRIED SINCE 1984
Chris and Monica’s Catholic faith has been the foundation of their friendship since they were kids attending church at Our Lady of Peace in Pennsylvania.
CHRIS AND MONICA FURMAN CELEBRATE THEIR DAUGHTER’S WEDDING IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. PHOTO BY ALICIA MINK PHOTOGRAPHY
“Attending Catholic school together from a young age, being active in our parish and Catholic Youth Organization helped define our shared spiritual and moral beliefs and value system,” Monica shared. “Our faith has defined us as individuals and as a couple. We are proud of our Catholic identity, which grounds us with a sense of belonging and purpose. Sharing our faith together has helped us tackle life’s challenging moments while appreciating God’s abundant blessings.”
After more than 40 years of marriage, Chris and Monica are still attending Mass every Sunday at St. Timothy in Laguna Niguel or Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach.
“Wake up each and every day with a grateful heart for the blessing of your spouse,” the pair said. “Ask yourself how you can make your partner’s day better than the day before. Commit yourself to making them smile and feel loved, valued and respected by your words and actions. By doing this, you will receive the same tenfold.”