Most Precious Blood of Jesus Roman Catholic Parish

Nuptial Mass

The National Aviary

Cocktail Hour

The Garden Room at the National Aviary

Reception

Please RSVP by October 18th!

Our Wedding

Our Story

Manny and Gracie met on October 22nd, 2022 at the Pitt Catholic Newman Club’s annual Barn Dance. They were each walking with their own group of friends on the rosary walk in the woods, and met along the way. As the months went on, they often saw each other at events and became casual friends. Towards the end of the spring 2023 semester, they would see each other every Saturday at the 20 decade rosary group Manny had started up. The group often hung out afterwards for hours talking and joking around, and the pair discovered they had the same exact sense of humor. On June 27th, 2023, Gracie revealed to Manny that she was privately discerning religious life after she got a feeling that Manny liked her. They met up in person and Manny confessed that he had been planning to ask her out on a date. Gracie decided to take a few days to pray about it and talk to her spiritual director before giving Manny an answer. Ultimately, Gracie decided to continue her discernment and refrain from dating. Around November 2023, she began to feel increasingly uncertain that she was called to religious life, and found herself thinking often of her friend. (She now affectionately refers to this time of her life as her “vocational crisis” :-)) On January 16th, 2024, Gracie went to spiritual direction to talk over her feeling that she should be open to marriage. That night, she asked Manny to meet up, and let him know she was no longer discerning religious life and was open to dating now. She had assumed he had moved on and was no longer interested, but Manny proceeded to ask her out immediately! The following morning they went on their first date at Sidecar, which lasted 4 hours, causing Manny to miss a meeting he had…oops. A week later, on January 24th (their third date and also Manny’s birthday!), he asked Gracie to be his girlfriend, and she said yes. Within the first few months of dating Manny and Gracie came to the realization that they had met each other on the feast day of St. John Paul II–Gracie’s favorite saint, and a saint best known for his extensive writing and speaking on the sacrament of marriage, particularly in his Theology of the Body. Not only that, but they revisited the exact spot they met on the rosary walk, and discovered that it was at the luminous mystery of The Wedding Feast of Cana. This signal grace solidified in both Manny and Gracie that they were in the right place. On March 25th, 2025, the Feast of the Annunciation when Mary gave her “yes” to God, Manny took Gracie to the Highland Park duck pond and proposed to her. She said yes! Since then, they have been joyfully soaking up these last months of dating and college life before marriage, which means lots of coffee dates, metal concerts, and video game nights!

Photos

George and Manny have been best friends for as long as they both can remember! The two have been through many ups and downs, victories and struggles, but the bond of their friendship has persevered through it all. As kids, Manny and George would spend their afterschool hours together and play Roblox. In high school, lots of nights were spent playing videogames together. However, it wasn't until college that their brotherly love was tested, as life got in the way. Manny and George managed to find time for each other, going to the gym together, talking on the phone, and even managing to take a class together! They are always available for each other to offer advice, consolation, or even just an ear to listen. Manny knows that George will still be there for him as he enters this new stage of life.

George Georges

Felicia and Gracie met through the Newman Club and instantly clicked! The two bond over their shared Carmelite spirituality and love of the saints (especially St. Teresa of Avila!), as well as their passion for literature, poetry, art, nature, and good food! Their friendship has bloomed over the past 3 years through Newman events, coffee/boba dates, LOTR viewings, and even a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2023! Felicia has been there for Gracie through every struggle, and Gracie knows she can always rely on Felicia's prayers. Felicia's devotion to Christ has been a significant inspiration for Gracie, who always feels revitalized and consoled after spending time with her friend. Gracie is so grateful to have such a magnificent beam of God's glory in her life, in the gift of this irreplaceable friendship. &lt;3

Felicia Nawa

Louis Zygmuncik

Gabriella Tamayo

Ethan Giebmanns

Maria Oliva

Gianmarco Febres

Gianna Oliva

Jonathan Oliva

Wedding Party

Q + A

Residence Inn Pittsburgh Oakland/University Place

Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place

Travel

Carnegie Museum of Art

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Strip District Terminal

Things to Do

Registry

The cookie table is a beloved Pittsburgh tradition, originating among European immigrants during the Great Depression era. Couples who could not afford a wedding cake counted on family and friends to bake cookies and bring them to the wedding instead. We would love to have our family and friends contribute to our cookie table! Please let us know if you can help! We will keep you updated on the logistics :-)

Pittsburgh Cookie Table

Our ceremony will take place through the rite of marriage followed by a traditional Latin Mass. What is the rite of marriage?The rite of marriage is an ancient ritual of the church where a couple exchange vows in the witness of their family, friends, and the priest or deacon. The vows consist of the free and willing commitment to totally and wholeheartedly love each other, accept children from God, and raise them according to the law of Christ and His church. The priest or deacon acts as the person of Jesus Christ Himself, who joins the couple together in a bond that only death can dissolve. "Until death do us part" What is Mass? The holy sacrifice of the Mass is where Heaven meets Earth. It is a sacred ritual where we worship God while He speaks to the innermost parts of our hearts. In essence, the Mass literally brings us to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As the priest transubstantiates bread and wine into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, we offer our prayers up to Almighty God. How is a traditional Latin Mass different than the other Catholic Masses I have been to? The traditional Latin Mass is the form of the Mass that was most widespread prior to the 1960s. It has roots extending deep into the ancient life of the church. At this form of Mass, the congregation enters a state of interior prayer, while the priest alone offers most of the verbal and audible prayer to God. Most of the Mass, except the homily (sermon) is entirely in ecclesiastical Latin, the official language of the church. The traditional Latin Mass is clearly an ancient ritual, which invokes a deep sense of holy fear of God. "This all sounds very intimidating! I was not raised Catholic and don't want to feel like I am doing something wrong!" Both the bride and groom will be inviting non-Catholics, so don't feel alone! The church will provide small pamphlets that explain what is going on, and what responses to say at certain times. During the Mass immediately after the ceremony, the bride and groom will generally stand up, sit, and kneel at appropriate times for the congregation to follow. Many people at our ceremony will also understand what is happening, and their actions can be followed. As long as you show a disposition of reverence, you have nothing to worry about.

Latin Mass - What to Expect

Mary Grace & Manny

Mary Grace & Manny

Photos