This story takes place 2,000 years ago in a little city in Galilee. There was a young woman named Mary betrothed to a man named Joseph of the tribe of David . . . . Wait a second . . . Hold on! . . . That’s the wrong Mary and Joe story!

Right, right . . . Our story begins in Ellicott City about a year ago. And like all good stories it begins with longing, hope, expectation, and prayer. For example, in some of the best Old Testament stories of love, Jacob worked 14 years to be with Rachel (Genesis 29:18-30). Similarly, Sarah prayed in faith and expectation for a husband when all seemed lost (Tobit 3:14-17). And Mary in Baltimore, and Joe in DC, prayed for spouses. (Mary, in fact, prayed a novena of 20 decades of the rosary for 54 days, and made pilgrimages to Lourdes and Medjugorje)! What a prayer warrior!

About halfway through Mary’s novena, God heard their prayers through a mutual friend - Brigid. - who decided to throw a little birthday party dinner followed by dancing at Glen Echo. Brigid - a romantic and conniving soul – with a twinkle in her eye, invited both Mary and Joe. But somehow, they sat at opposite ends of the dinner table -- without so much as a peep of interaction.

The dance floor was a different story; it was lit!!! With a little prompting from fellow birthday party attendee, Dace, Mary and Joe were propelled onto the dance floor. In their own gentle and zany way, they crafted dance moves such as “the football.” (Dance moves you’ll want to catch at our wedding reception). They went home enamored, intrigued, and almost swept off their feet. But they would need a bit more prompting to set the ball in motion.

Over the coming months Mary and Joe corresponded via Facebook messenger, with nothing materializing in the way of meeting. Being naturally demure, it may have ended in an online friendship. God had other plans. Joe happened to mention to Brigid that he liked Mary and she once again provided the assist. There was a serendipitous invitation to both parties to her Memorial Day cookout. After which dating began in earnest.

It was the historic and quaint St. Paul’s church in Ellicott City which witnessed Mary and Joe’s first date, followed by breakfast at a storied restaurant --The Trolley Stop, culminating in a romantic walk along a placid trail in the woods overlooking the Patapsco River where a duck family festively floated by their side. Amidst giggles and smiles, Mary and Joe playfully skipped rocks atop the water (not aimed at the ducks) all while their hearts blissfully warmed toward each other. Thereafter followed many luminous adventures together.

They made the Charm City - Baltimore – the site of their scamperings; such as their water bottle bocce ball tournament. Happening upon a bocce ball court in Little Italy without the requisite game pieces, they invented their own version of the time-honored game. It involved rolling their water bottles instead of actual bocce balls. The loser was consigned to donning a traffic cone on their head for one city block! (We leave the dear reader to guess who ended up so ensconced). Watch for this game to virally catch on!

Another was their "faith inflated party balloon evangelization extravaganza"! After a picnic on beautiful Federal Hill, overlooking Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and majestic downtown, they inflated balloons and launched them down the hill. Each balloon was inscribed with a phrase, such as, Joe Heart’s Mary, or Jesus Loves You. One of the Jesus Loves You balloons had a special destination. It floated the entire length of the hill directly toward two strangers in an intensely emotional conversation. One picked it up, read the missive, and tossed it away. But it floated back and the other kept it. From that point forward, Mary and Joe referred to the hill as Holy Spirit Hill. On this knoll, God used their love to minister to others in need.

Nuns, too, made a debut in their story. Just before July 4th, Mary visited Joe in DC, and after a city-wide scavenger hunt, they returned to Quincy Street to light fireworks for the outgoing Mother Superior of the Sister Servants. But Mother Superior called Joe’s bluff. Joe proclaimed the fireworks were for Mother’s leaving, but Mother noted (with a mischievous lilt in her voice) that maybe this display was for Mary. Bashfully, yet gleefully, Joe admitted this truth and proceeded to set off over 500 rounds of fireworks (we hope law enforcement isn’t reading this). The fireworks drove the nuns joyfully back into the convent and sent passer byers running; and Mary and Joe’s hearts racing. Fortunately, the nuns who survived -- have graciously offered to sing at their wedding (a treat you can look forward to dear wedding attendee).

Thereafter followed so many more romantic and zany adventures to count: ninja training, motorcycle gang joining, rival gang fending off, spy missioning, bank robbing, skydiving, big game hunting, etc. Tales you may want to ask about if you’ll grace them with your presence on their wedding day.

Or you may want to ask them about the engagement. Mary and Joe were out for her birthday, and as was the habit, they began the day with a visit to Our Lord. They went to the breathtaking Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore, (This is where Mary’s parents were married) and knelt in their regular front pew on the right-hand side. But there was one thing different. A book detailing the history of their relationship was waiting for them. After many laughs and smiles enjoying the memories, Joe invited Mary up to the sanctuary, as close to the Blessed Sacrament as possible. He dropped on one knee and asked if he could have the honor and privilege of being her husband. And drumroll please! She said YES!!!

But that’s not all. As they were leaving the sanctuary, a friend of Mary’s, Angelus, came running toward them! She had just happened to be inspired to stop into church to pray. She looked up from contemplation to see a proposal taking place in the sanctuary. Angelus did a double take . . . it was her friend Mary being proposed to! She snapped a few pictures which Mary and Joe Treasure. And she made them do the proposal two more times for more photos. (Mary said YES, all three times )

Mary and Joe knelt and prayed prayers of thanksgiving at Our Lady and St Joseph’s altars and then walked to the back of the church where they happened upon the shrine rector praying his Breviary. They received his blessing and walked out the majestic front doors into the sunlight and the rest of their lives together at 3:00pm on Sept 15th.

But, dear reader, far be it for Mary and Joe to leave you only with the profound. The amusing and playful must make a debut. On the steps of the Basilica, Joe handed Mary some wire cutters for the next step. They drove to Holy Spirit Hill where Joe’s Best Man, Mark, had prepositioned Bubba Jean, the truck, covered in hearts and messages such as “Happy Birthday Mary!” and “Will You Marry Me!” Mary used the wire cutters to cut open the zip-tied back door of the cab and 100s of balloons with “Jesus heart’s you!” floated out, covering the Baltimore sky spreading their love all over the city. (In case you are wondering, Joe did the obvious and inhaled some helium and proposed a 4th time in the squeakiest voice possible).

Hidden under the balloons was a small Cypress tree (cf. Isaiah 41:19). They took their new little sapling and brought it back to where they had their first date. They walked from St Paul’s, past the Trolley Stop, through the woods and planted the Cypress tree overlooking the stream they skipped rocks in, on their first date. And then they returned home to celebrate with their family.

(By the way, the day Mary and Joe were engaged, the Baltimore Ravens Football team won!)

Hope to see you at our wedding!