BRISBANE’S Faith on Tap (FoT) is celebrating its first engaged couple, with Steven Bird and Eloise Giraud planning an August 14 wedding.
The couple, both committed to youth ministry, met at the first local FoT after World Youth Day in August 2008.
Their courtship has evolved through traditional get-togethers over coffee and dinner but also has included a unique ingredient.
“Our dates in those first few months would always end with (time spent in) adoration,” Steven said of going to Eloise’s home parish of Darra-Jindalee.
His home of Sunnybank, where Steven has been youth co-ordinator for five years, also provided a faith platform.
“Adoration in Advent was a special time,” he said.
“I was really discerning my vocation and at adoration I saw an older couple praying together.
“The man had finished but he allowed his wife to continue praying and had his arm around her.
“I knew at that moment that’s what I wanted my life to be like.”
Eloise had offered a novena as her discernment continued and it was answered.
This year the couple will share the youth co-ordinator’s role at Sunnybank, the pretty brunette formerly working in Brisbane’s west deanery as youth co-ordinator.
She has also served on NET (National Evangelisaton Teams) Canada and has a strong background in bringing other young women to Christ.
Together Steven and Eloise are seemingly unstoppable and desire to reflect Christ’s love in their relationship.
“We are currently running Theology of the Body and for me it has revealed how couples can bring others to Christ,” Eloise said.
“Our love is a reflection of God’s love.”
Steven, a tiler by trade, has celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation in Our Lady of Lourdes, Sunnybank, and said his “life’s dream” would be fulfilled in marrying, around that same Eucharistic table, his 22-year-old fianceé who was born in South Africa.
“Everything with us just fits properly,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to be in a husband-and-wife team who do youth ministry together as it’s hard doing it on your own.
“We are a faith-filled team.”
Remaining focused on each other and God, the blissful duo is also adamant women need fellowship with women and men with men.
“My motivation (for ministry with women and girls) is to help them see their dignity and worth,” Eloise said.
“I want them to know it’s not okay to settle for second best and they deserve to be treated like princesses.”
Steven said he desired to “teach men how to treat ladies right” and last year ran “Remanned” – a seven-part series to do exactly that.
This year “Remanned 2” will be offered.
The youth advocates are also involved in the “Challenge” outreach to girls and “Conquest” for boys, both products of positive faith role models in their parents.
“My life has always consisted of faith,” Steven said of growing up beside Our Lady of Lourdes Church and having many priests as personal family friends.
“Even when I was away from Mass, briefly, I felt empty.
“I’m always reading and trying to work out how I can be a better practising Catholic.”
As for that fateful August 2008 night, the handsome redhead said he noticed his bride-to-be and they spoke in a group about youth ministry for an hour.
This upcoming August 14, Steven said he was most looking forward to seeing Eloise walk through the same church doors he has for 23 years.
Eloise said she looks forward to “just walking up the aisle and seeing Steven” and professing their Christ-like love to all.
