Parish Couple Grows Closer to Christ and One Another During Pandemic

For one young couple in our parish preparing for marriage, the onset of the pandemic has meant they have not only grown closer with each other, but their relationship with Christ has also grown stronger.

As the pandemic restrictions were put in place, Peter continued with his RCIA classes and has joined the Church. He attributes the love of Christ he has experienced with his being better able to live with the difficulties brought forth due to COVID-19.

“I’ve grown to appreciate the strength Christ has had in this situation,” he says. “I’ve been able to maintain a positive attitude. I couldn’t do it without being able to rely on God. He gives me the support I might not have had.”

By having to stay home, the couple found they were able to more deeply communicate with each other about their faith.

“Through the RCIA process, it’s always been the thing on our minds,” he says. “What I was learning in class, we were able to talk about matters like raising a family and what values are important to us.”

As for Haley, being able to talk with Peter as he attended the classes has helped deepen her faith.

“He’d come home and talk,” she says. “It’s nice having that person to talk to about your faith. I was learning so much from what he’s learning. Even when he did Zoom sessions, I’d sit in and learn. It is amazing what you don’t realize [about our faith] when you grow up Catholic.”

As the couple followed quarantine guidelines, they found that it enabled them to slow down and focus on their surroundings — and each other.

“It allowed us to focus more on our relationship,” Peter says. “It is easy to get caught in the business of life. When you are forced to stay home more, you are more focused on each other and the building of a relationship, as opposed to our social lives.”

“It really makes you slow down,” Haley says. “You have each other and you can focus and get rid of the outside noise. You can sit down and read and talk, and be together.”

Peter Hutcheson and Haley Harrill will be married on Nov. 7. Please keep them in your prayers!

Peter Hutcheson and Haley Harrill are getting married Nov. 7. They found that pandemic restrictions enabled them to grow both in their relationship, and in their relationship with Christ.