Dating is already hard, yet trying to find practicing Catholics is a whole other challenge! It’s a chore to sift through lukewarm Catholics on dating apps, and meeting a devout Catholic naturally at work or in public places would be a miracle. It’s even more of a challenge if your family and friends aren’t practicing Catholics because meeting a “friend of a friend” is off the table!
I’ve tried so many different methods to meet other single practicing Catholics! Even though I’m still single, I’ve had success meeting likeminded men, and I feel hopeful.
So, how can you meet single Catholics? Here are my eight suggestions for you!
#1: Explore the CatholicMatch dating app
Yes, there’s a dating app for Catholics! There are actually a few, but after trying a couple others, I’ve determined CatholicMatch is the best one. I’ve been a member for over a year now, and I highly recommend it!
To gain full functionality, a membership is required. The cost seems jarring at first, but I think it’s worth it. One of the best things about the app is that there isn’t any swiping! You can view all members at once and add filters to view members that align with what you’re looking for in a future spouse. It makes for a really efficient dating app experience. Also, all members are required to share if they believe in Church teachings or not. These are: The Eucharist, Sanctity of Life, Sex Before Marriage, and Contraception. When browsing profiles, you can immediately see whether they are aligned with your beliefs or not. It’s super refreshing!
I truly suggest giving CatholicMatch a try and deleting all other dating apps. If you really want to find a practicing Catholic and you’re still using other dating apps, you’re wasting your time sifting through people with other religions and different levels of Catholicism.
#2: Attend Young Catholic Professionals events
Young Catholic Professionals is a networking group for practicing Catholics in their 20s and 30s. When I first learned about this organization, I assumed that I had to be a paying member and that it required a high level of commitment. I was pleasantly surprised to learn I didn’t have to be a member to attend events (although membership is appreciated) and it’s very laid-back!
I’ve attended two events so far. One was a speaking session of a business executive who shared his experience integrating his faith at work, followed with casual networking between attendees. The second event I attended was a happy hour in a side room of a restaurant. Both events were great! The best part is that everyone is Catholic. It’s a beautiful thing to be surrounded by young professionals with the same faith! No luck in the love department yet for me, but I made a few friends. I recently decided to become a paying member of YCP, and I plan on attending future events.
Also, don’t be turned off if you don’t have a business-related profession. The website makes it seem like it’s for people in sales, marketing, finance, etc. At the most recent happy hour, I met teachers and lawyers, so I suggest still giving it a try no matter what profession you have!
#3: Try young adult groups near you
So far, I’ve tried three different young adult groups near me. I found two of them on The Catholic Young Adult Network, and I found the other group from a Google search! All of the groups I’ve tried are very different! One of the groups meets in the basement of a church after Mass to discuss various topics. The other group meets in different locations and primarily provides an opportunity for Catholics to interact with each other. (Play board games, hang around a fire pit, etc.) The third group enjoys dinner together after Mass and offers ice breaker questions and trivia. I suggest trying different groups to see what feels like the best fit for you!
From my experience, I recommend going into these groups with the mindset to make friends and/or gather with Catholics, not to meet your spouse. That mindset will take pressure off of your experience and make for a much more enjoyable time! When I first started going to these events, my mindset was to meet my spouse. The second I got to an event, I would scan the room and if I didn’t think anyone was cute, I would check out and have a poor experience because I felt like it was a waste of time. Now, I have a good time no matter what happens. It’s fulfilling to be surrounded by Catholics, talk about Catholic topics, and learn from them.
Something else to keep in mind with groups like this is that you never know who you’ll meet! You could meet your future spouse’s sister/best friend/etc. So even if you don’t meet your future spouse, you could be connected to someone who might eventually introduce you to them!
#4: Join the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a Catholic service organization that supports community members in need of assistance. Your parish likely has a conference, and if not, a nearby parish might.
I joined my parish’s conference several months ago, and it’s been a great way to meet other Catholics. (It’s also extremely rewarding and heartwarming!) Most parishioners at my home parish tend to be older, so the Saint Vincent de Paul members in my conference are mainly retirees. Only two other members are around my age, but every conference is likely different! You should consider joining if you have a passion for helping others.
Also, even if your parish’s conference doesn’t have many members your age, you could meet your future spouse’s mom/grandfather/etc. You never know!
#5: Church hop
It’s definitely worth it to explore churches around you! I suggest starting with the churches nearby, then ask around to learn which churches have vibrant, younger communities.
When I first joined the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, one of the members gave me a list of four churches to try! She thought I might have luck finding young men at those churches compared to others. It was fun changing up my routine by attending Mass at other churches. I suggest doing the same!
If you don’t have anyone to recommend churches to you, you might have success trying some churches near large cities. One of the churches she recommended was in a large city and I was blown away by how many attendees were in their 20s and 30s! Masses near my more rural town tend to have older attendees with a sprinkling of younger ones.
#6: Try different Mass times
If you always go to the same Mass time at your home church, you should switch it up and try the other Mass times! Maybe your spouse is only a different Mass away!
#7: Go to Eucharistic Adoration
Looking for a serious Catholic? Eucharistic Adoration is a good way to find devout Catholics! Adoration is so beautiful. If you haven’t been before, I highly recommend giving it a try! And maybe you’ll meet someone before or after in the parking lot or hallway.
(Just make sure you don’t go with the sole goal of finding a spouse. You should focus on having a reverent experience with Christ.)
#8: Openly talk about your faith at work
It can seem taboo to talk about religion at work, but it’s healthy to bring all of you to work, including your faith. When people ask what I’m doing during an upcoming weekend and if I’m going to a Catholic networking event or doing something else related to my faith, I try to tell them what I’m doing! (Even though it can be challenging at times, depending on who I’m talking to!)
It’s great to share that you’re Catholic so people can learn that’s a part of you. Maybe you’ll meet a fellow Catholic and start a conversation, learning that they have a single son/daughter/brother/sister/etc.
I hope there are a few suggestions here that you’ll give a try! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, and even if you don’t meet any prospects right away, they could be right around the corner. All of these avenues have helped me to grow as a person, and I’ve met many beautiful, devout Catholic men and women. It gives me so much hope for our futures!
Much light and love! XOXO!
Photo by RDNE Stock project.
