WHEN EMILY MET Daniel, they instantly hit it off.
She was in the Netherlands on a swing through Europe as a speaker at Catholic events. He was an event volunteer whose duties included showing Emily around his native country.
When Daniel dropped her off at the airport after four days, he thought: I think I met the woman I’m supposed to marry. After two years of long-distance dating, they wed.
A decade later, and now parents of three children ages 6, 5 and 1, Orange County-based Emily Wilson — a noted Catholic speaker, author and YouTuber — and her husband, entrepreneur Daniel Hussem, are hoping to help fellow devout believers meet, date and tie the knot.
This month, in the Diocese of Orange and more than a dozen other dioceses nationwide, the spouses are scheduled to flip the “on switch” on a dating app they created after a beta phase that attracted the interest of thousands of singles around the country.
Their app, SacredSpark, is designed for real, faith-focused relationships and marriage — not endless swiping.
“We’re all about making online connections for offline relationships,” Hussem said.
NO FAKING IT
Churches throughout the Diocese of Orange have ministries for singles, but according to statistics Hussem cited from a recent Stanford University study, 61% of couples meet online. The demographic SacredSpark is targeting — singles ages 18 to 35, although any adult can sign up — is especially well-versed in looking for love online. But SacredSpark is different from other long-established secular online dating platforms, Hussem and Wilson stressed.
For starters, users can’t fib about their appearance. They make introduction videos exclusively from within the app and can’t import videos made elsewhere. This gives SacredSpark users a crystal-clear idea of what prospective partners really is like in person and weeds out all the phony-balonies.
“What we’re trying to do is make online dating a lot more human, intentional, and personal — something authentic and Catholic for young singles where faith isn’t an afterthought,” Hussem said.
MARRIED COUPLE DANIEL HUSSEM AND EMILY WILSON ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE CATHOLIC DATING APP, SACREDSPARK. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY WILSON
MATCHMAKING FUNCTION
Wilson touts the uniqueness of the app’s matchmaking function. Close friends and relatives who know a SacredSpark user best can help them carry the load by acting as their personal matchmakers right within the app, and even communicate with other matchmakers to jointly set up their single friends and cheer them on during their dating journeys. And the Catholic faith is central to the app’s mission and vibe. It comes with loads of material Wilson has created, including dating tips for singles who are more comfortable reading a Bible than sipping drinks at a bar.
SacredSpark recently launched a video formation series called Dating101. Among the tips: Pay attention to red and green flags.
“Red flags are signs that something is off — such as disrespect for boundaries, manipulation, constant emotional highs and lows or a weak prayer life,” Wilson explained. “Don’t ignore these warnings; bring them to prayer, talk to a mentor and listen to the peace or unease God places in your heart,” she advised. “On the other hand, green flags show maturity and virtue—someone who shows up consistently, listens well, communicates clearly and makes sacrifices when needed.”
STARTED OFF AS LIGHTHEARTED EXPERIMENT
The genesis of SacredSpark dates to fall 2023, when Wilson began posting “matchmaking” prompts on Instagram. Catholic singles shared their names and locations to connect with other singles in their area. What started as a lighthearted experiment has led to 12 marriages, 20 engagements, hundreds of dating couples and even a few babies, Wilson said.
Once enough singles in a diocese join the waitlist, SacredSpark fully unlocks at launch. This ensures that there’s a strong, active community of singles at the start instead of the real-life equivalent of a gathering that has more crickets than courting couples.
The Diocese of Orange is among the top 15 most active dioceses in terms of signups, reflecting a strong desire among Catholic singles for faith-filled relationships and marriage, Wilson and Hussem noted.
No officials at the Diocese of Orange were consulted in the creation of SacredSpark, but Wilson and Hussem hope to meet with leadership to explain the concept and how, in their view, the app can become a great service to would-be lovebirds who regularly attend Mass.
“We’re trying to start a revolution for Catholic dating,” Wilson said. “We absolutely love the Diocese of Orange with all our hearts. It’s such a special place and there are so many beautiful things going on with the Church here.”
The couple attends Mass at a local parish, and when their busy schedules permit, they go to daily Masses a couple times a week.
GOING GLOBAL?
SacredSpark is initially launching in the U.S., but Wilson and Hussem hope to take the pious platform global.
“We have lots of international signups on the waitlist — from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands — you name it,” Wilson said.
For more information on SacredSpark, or to join the waitlist, visit www.sacredspark.app