Prayerful reflection met white peach sangria at the annual Diocesan Date Night. Engaged and married couples from across the Diocese convened at Folino Estate Winery in Kutztown on January 24th for dinner, drinks, and Catholic speakers. While last year’s date night welcomed nineteen couples, this year’s event capped at 100 couples, with several on the waitlist.
“We are so blessed to be in a Diocese and have a Bishop who supports marriage enrichment,” said Rhady Tulloch, Director of Marriage and Family Life, as she welcomed the guests. “I hope you all feel the embrace of being in this Diocesan family.”
After Tulloch, who coordinated the event, made opening remarks, Bishop Schlert also welcomed the attendees and led them in prayer before dinner.
“Full disclosure: I’m not here with a date,” Bishop joked. “But know that I am so pleased and so heartfelt in my welcome to you. Thank you for your witness to the goodness and beauty of marriage.”
“It’s just amazing to see a room full of 200 people sharing one common denominator: an appreciation and commitment to the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony,” he added.
Guests enjoyed their choice of wine or sangria with their meals, and they had the opportunity to meet other couples from the Diocese. One table of guests shared that they so enjoyed meeting each other that they planned to form a group chat and attend other Diocesan Events together.
Married couple Greg and Heather Maigur gave a talk about the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and shared how they themselves have been learning to imitate the Holy Family by laying down their lives in a radical “yes” to God’s will for each other and their family.
“Mary and Joseph laid down their lives with their ‘yes,’” the couple explained. “The Blessed Mother knew that the beginning of Jesus’ ministry would break her heart, but she still said, ‘do whatever he tells you,’ a repeat of her ‘Thy will be done.’”
The Maigurs shared stories from their lives, including Heather’s diagnosis and treatment for a melanoma. “I got to see Greg’s heart,” Heather said. “He laid down all his plans to walk with me.” They also commented on their journey with Natural Family Planning and how the family is “a school of love,” using the words of Pope St. John Paul II.
“Say yes to the beautiful and sometimes wild plan God has for you,” they concluded. “It will be a beautiful challenge, but a great adventure.”
After the talk, Rhady Tulloch returned to the podium to thank her own husband, David Tulloch. “It is because of him that I can give the best version of myself to this job and, therefore, to you!”
Several others were also moved to share appreciation for their partners and reminisce about their lives together as they chatted at their tables.
Paul Procaccio, a parishioner of St. Thomas More, Allentown, was asked his favorite memory from his wedding day. “Easy!” He answered. “She said ‘I do!’”
“We’ve been married five years, and we still love each other like the first day,” his wife Aracelis Procaccio added.
Deacon John Sutter, married 45 years to his wife Kim Sutter, led the group in a prayer of thanksgiving to end the evening.
After the fact, Deacon Thomas Devaney shared his reflections on the event with his wife of 22 years, Maureen Devaney.
“Date Night is a wonderful opportunity to have time, uninterrupted time, with so many faith-filled couples.” Deacon Devaney said. “Each of the couples share this one thing: we are together with the person we are blessed to love. Truly, amid this very large gathering, the Presence of God was there!”
Photo by Vargas Photography.
