In Valencia, Spain, a priest named Fernando Cuevas is known for his unique ‘sideline’—connecting single Catholics. For 15 years, he has completely shunned modern social media and algorithms, relying on his personal experience and a special form to successfully bring 640 couples to the altar, boasting a record of zero divorces to date.
The Birth of a “Catholic Cupid”
Father Fernando Cuevas, born in Ibiza and now based in Valencia, sees finding partners for single Catholics as his special mission, with the prerequisite that couples are willing to marry in the Church. This matchmaking service, exclusively for Catholics, has earned him titles like ‘the Catholic Cupid’ and ‘a modern-day Cupid.’ After 15 years of dedication, his astonishing track record of 640 successful marriages without a single failure has made him widely known.
The Unique “TAC Form” Matchmaking Method
Father Cuevas’s matchmaking model operates entirely without digital tools. The process begins with a single person sending him a simple text message. Applicants then fill out his proprietary ‘TAC Form.’ ‘TAC’ is an acronym for three Spanish words:
- T (Trabajador/a): A steady worker
- A (Atractivo/a): Attractive (with a recent photo attached)
- C (Católico/a): A practicing Catholic
The form also includes information such as age, city of residence, educational background, profession, hobbies, and commitment to the Church, providing a foundation for subsequent matching.
A Process of “Providence,” Not “Algorithms”
Father Cuevas emphasizes that his work is ‘not magic’ and doesn’t rely on ‘algorithms’ but on ‘divine providence.’ After receiving the forms, he personally reviews them, looking for potential common ground between two applicants. The matching process is extremely careful and personal:
- Initial Screening: The priest searches for potential matches based on the form’s information.
- Private Consultation: Before introducing the two parties, he speaks with each one individually to gain a deeper understanding of their personal situation and expectations.
- Seeking Consent: The priest first asks the woman if she is willing to be introduced to the man. Throughout this stage, neither party is aware of the other’s identity until consent is given.
- Stepping Back: Once both parties agree, the priest exchanges their contact information and then steps away, allowing them to develop the relationship on their own.
A Reputation Spanning from Spain to the World
As success stories accumulated, Father Cuevas’s phone number spread by ‘word of mouth’ within Catholic circles, and even some online influencers began promoting him voluntarily. Today, his phone receives daily WhatsApp messages and voice notes from all over the world, with requests coming from Spain and as far as India and Australia. For instance, Daniel Pitarch and Mariel Jung are one of the many couples who found each other through his efforts. The priest notes that while he encounters a few ‘impossible cases due to overly high expectations,’ the vast majority of applicants are sincere in their desire to find a life partner under the guidance of their faith.
