Catholic singles looking to learn more on how to navigate their dating journey so they can pick the best possible spouse are invited to a first-of-its-kind Dating and Relationship Conference set for April 13 at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park.
The daylong gathering begins with Mass at 8 a.m. and includes a series of talks including:
- Marriage: How do I know if I am called to it?
- Struggles, Divisions and Breakdowns in Marriages: Advice for Single Catholics
- Finding your Mate: Why Catholic?
- Communications in Relationship
- Compatibility and Compromises
- Character Essentials in a Healthy, Lasting and Joy-filled Marriage
Witness talks will also be presented and there will be a panel forum with a question-and-answer session. The free event, which includes coffee and doughnuts and lunch, concludes with a closing prayer at 5 p.m.
“My hope is that our participants will be able to glean practical advice … so singles can discern well in their dating journey and make assessments along the way as they go on dates,” said Angelus Virata, evangelization director of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore and one of the organizers of the conference.
Going from being single to married is a process, Virata said, and should be “covered with prayers and leaning ever so close to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to assist you in discerning your spouse.”
Virata noted that marriage is a vocation and people must thoughtfully discern if that is their particular call. They should be open to all vocations, she said.
Virata added that the purpose of dating is to get to know another person, including his or her education, work background, values, habits, interests and “especially their character.”
“One’s character as a single person says a lot about what they will be like in marriage,” she said. “We all have our good days and bad days, but one’s character is constant. We need to go beyond the superficial when we go on dates to know and understand the person we are dating before engagement.”
More than 160 people have already registered for the dating conference, Virata said.
“At the end of the conference, we have a mystery surprise for all singles in attendance and a chance for meeting and getting to know people,” she said.
The event is sponsored by the Baltimore Basilica, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Office of Vocations, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Office of Black Catholic Ministries and the Catholic Review.
Click here to register.
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
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