Approaching the Sacrament of Matrimony with Joy: Q&A with Ella Foley & Nolan Lukasik

Tell me a bit about yourselves

Ella:
I am originally from Bay City, Mich., but my family moved to Portage, Mich. in 2012. After graduating there from high school, I made my way up north to Northern Michigan University (NMU) for college! I am currently a senior at NMU studying mathematics and I graduate December of 2021. Besides being a student, I also work at Target part-time. Since moving to Marquette for school, I split my time between St. Michael Parish and St. Peter Cathedral. I haven’t joined a parish as a member yet, but I’m sure I will claim one as my home with my new hubby Nolan. As for my hobbies, I love  reading, playing cards with my family, but most of all sharing sweet moments with Nolan.
Nolan:
I am from Stephenson, Mich. and ventured up to Marquette for an education at NMU. I have been here pretty much ever since! I had plans to move away after college, but falling in love with Ella changed my plans for the better. With a little bit of traveling, I have come to realize how lucky we are to be starting a life together in Marquette! When it comes to making a living, I help people buy and sell homes at RE/MAX 1st Realty and I am an officer in the Michigan Army National Guard. A few
of my favorite hobbies are keeping fit, going to the beach, and cooking something Italian with Ella.
My favorite thing in the world is probably making Ella laugh.

You’re getting married this month, what has been best piece of advice you’ve received
before entering the sacrament of marriage?

Ella: I would say one of the best pieces of advice we received was that once we're married, we should pray together before going to bed at night. Even if it is as simple as an Our Father or a Hail Mary. Praying together is the foundation for a strong relationship, and no matter what difficulties or disagreements the day may bring, prayer brings us back together, back to what is important.
Nolan: It’s hard to nail down one best piece of advice. We are lucky to have positive role models for us on multiple fronts whose actions speak much more than any piece of advice we have received. If I had to put what I have learned from those role models into a statement, I would say will the good of the other. One of my favorite relationship quotes is, “Do you want to be right or do you want to be in love?”

Who is a person that has influenced your Catholic faith and how did they do so?

Ella: My mom, Amy Foley, has played the biggest role in influencing my Catholic faith. She is who introduced my dad, my siblings and I to the faith when we were searching for a new church after our first family move. Since coming into the Church with my family, my mother has been a steady source of light and inspiration. Whenever there is a new opportunity to grow in faith, my mom is there and welcoming all of us along the way with her. We have consecrated ourselves to Mary together, begun the Bible in a Year podcast with Father Mike Schmitz, and not to mention that she and my dad are living examples of what I want for my marriage with Nolan. My mom and dad are both quiet examples of how I want to live out my Catholic faith and how to bring others to the faith as well.
Nolan: Father Brandon Oman played a huge role for me. He invited me back into the church through Catholic Campus Ministry at NMU after I had been away for several years. He is a man living by faith and getting to watch him do God’s work with a smile on his face moved me to reach deeper in my own faith.

Who is your favorite saint?
Ella: The rosary is a source of comfort for me, but as for a particular saint, St. Gianna Beretta Molla is my favorite. She is the patron saint of unborn children, pediatricians, and mothers. I am proud to be prolife and to support the prolife movement. I have been to the March for Life twice now, and both of my experiences were very powerful. I would suggest for any Catholic on the fence about abortion, or about the prolife movement, to attend the March for Life. It is a great eye-opening experience. For these reasons, St. Gianna’s witness as a prolife mother and pediatrician makes her my favorite saint.
Nolan: Technically Saint Michael is an Archangel, but I still have to go with him. He happens to be the patron saint of the military. I have always been inspired by the strong standing up for those not able to defend themselves. That’s why I chose him as my patron saint.

Any advice for today’s Catholics?

Ella: I know many Catholics in my own life that were raised by parents who they themselves don’t exactly have a firm grasp of the beliefs of the Catholic faith and therefore have drifted from the Church, pulling their kids away as well. I would ask of the younger generation of Catholics to not be pulled by outside forces, or even domestic forces, away from the Church. We live in a time of relativism, where people claim there is no absolute truth, that everyone can live however they want to. This is a dangerous idea, because as Catholics, we know that there is absolute truth in one God,
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are called as Catholics to remain in Him, to love EVERYONE, but that does not mean we accept the relativism in this culture or in other people’s lives. So, I would say for Catholics struggling today with the church or their beliefs to first and foremost read the Bible. The Bible in a Year podcast with Father Mike Schmitz is a great place to start. I also would encourage Catholics to pull out their catechisms. I know that there are many sources of information on what the Church believes and its doctrine. Rather than hearing about what other people say about the Catholic faith, go to the root and read the catechism. Read for yourself what the Church professes, pray about its meanings and what it means to you. This is not a passive faith, we must seek the truth, and most importantly come back to the Father. Adoration is a good place to take any questions, reservations, or to just sit and be in the presence of God.
Nolan: I know that many people have stopped coming to church under the circumstances of COVID-19. I think back to when guilt and fear kept me from coming back to the church. I hope that anyone that feels like they want to come back but cannot for some reason or another will find the strength to overcome that and embrace the open arms of the Church.