LAPORTE – Jackie Martinez sensed something was up. She recalled how her boyfriend Joey Bowen was “being weird that day,” insisting they get to confession early. Her instincts would be proven correct shortly after the trio arrived at Holy Family Parish - St. Peter Church.
Once inside, Bowen led Martinez past the confessionals to the bottom step in front of the sanctuary. Bowen dropped to one knee, not to confess, but to profess his love and propose to Martinez on Oct. 14, 2023.
Initially taken aback, Martinez responded with a smile and a “yes.”
The proposal was captured by Bowen’s sister, Bridget.
“I wanted to propose somewhere special. It worked out great proposing where we met and having the Blessed Sacrament present really meant a lot,” said Bowen.
Martinez, 22, and Bowen, 20, met during a Totus Tuus session at the LaPorte parish nearly six years ago.
“I felt like having Jesus there as a witness to the proposal was truly something special. In the same way that you make your vows at the wedding ceremony in front of the Blessed Sacrament, it felt to me that I was proposing with the permission of God,” said Bowen.
When Bowen intended to ask Martinez’s father for her hand in marriage, her mom and brother were present as well. The family unanimously gave their approval.
The young couple shared how faith plays a big part in their lives. They credited their families who are very active in the Holy Family Parish.
Martinez and Bowen acknowledge times when they felt somewhat distant from their faith, especially for Martinez during her first year of college. They shared how they have grown in their faith since they began their friendship. “We really build off each other,” said Martinez.
The couple had been dating only five months before their engagement, but they have been good friends for over five years. They admit there was some interest in dating early on in their friendship, but they felt that they were too young to date.
Over the next few years, their friendship continued to grow as they dated other people. “Even when we were just friends for those five years, we were always so excited to see each other. When I came home from college, we would spend hours just talking with each other. We were so happy to see each other,” said a bubbly Martinez.
“Both our families told us it’s important to be friends before beginning a serious relationship. It creates a strong foundation for the relationship,” she added.
Bowen said that after Jackie got out of her last relationship, it was time to see if this was something they wanted to pursue. He explained how their relationships with others allowed them to realize it was God’s plan for them to be together.
Bowen confessed there was a sense of hesitation and fear. He recalled that during a meeting with Father Bill O’Toole, the picture became clear when Father O’Toole presented him with one question, “If you’re so sure about your love, why haven’t you proposed yet?”
“It got me thinking a lot about it. If I’m so sure about our relationship, why would I put it off any longer? I had to trust (that) God is guiding us,” Bowen responded.
Bowen recently graduated from Ivy Tech Community College. Martinez will graduate from Indiana University this May. Both live and work in LaPorte. The couple have set an October 2024 wedding date.
The couple offered advice to others considering engagement. “You have to leave everything to God. It’s got to be God's plan,” said Martinez.
Caption: Jackie Martinez reacts as her boyfriend, Joey Bowen, proposes to her in Holy Family Parish - St. Peter Church on Oct. 14, 2023. (Photo provided)