Love: Jaclyn Senior & Howie Brown

In late summer 2010, Howie, an actor and producer from Washington Township, Gloucester County, was in search of leadership skills with a Jesuit perspective. On the advice of a friend studying to be a priest, he signed up for the Contemplative Leaders in Action group at Old St. Joe's in Philadelphia.

Jaclyn, a financial analyst, had signed up for the same course in 2009 to keep a friend company. When a change in the schedule led to a conflict with Jaclyn's Temple University MBA classes, she deferred to the 2010 session.

Her studies also made her miss the Friday launch. Rushing toward the church's retreat house on Saturday morning, she met a man rushing from the opposite direction. That was Howie, who had also missed Friday.

The two latecomers walked in together. At lunch, Howie told a small group why he missed Friday's class: It was opening night of Montgomery Theater's production of Everyone Loves Opal. He played a devious, drunken ex-professor.

Jaclyn smiled. Her father, Jim, used to act part-time, and had performed at the same theater. That led to their first real conversation, in which Howie learned that Jaclyn works for Lincoln Financial. He made what would become a frequent plea: "Can you get me Eagles tickets?"

Despite her lack of tix, they kept talking.

After October's class, a group went to see a movie, then to a bar. Afterward, Howie offered to drive Jaclyn to her Rittenhouse Square home. "We sat talking for three hours in front of my apartment building," remembered Jaclyn, who grew up in Upper Gwynedd.

They talked about the role their faith had played in their lives: Howie was a St. Joseph's Prep grad. Jaclyn did her undergraduate studies at St. Joseph's University, where Howie earned his master's in elementary ed. He told her about working in the Philadelphia public schools through Teach for America. She told him she wanted to teach financial literacy. It was after 3 a.m. when Howie drove back to New Jersey.

On Nov. 8, they went on their first actual date, to Alpha Bar.

Jaclyn turned 29 in April 2012. All she wanted was dinner at her parents' house with family. By then, Howie, who is now 31, was managing director at the Act II Playhouse in Ambler, where he also lived. He picked Jaclyn up at the Ambler train station to make what is usually a quick drive to Upper Gwynedd. That day, traffic crawled. They were running 30 minutes late when Howie said he had to turn around.

"I forgot flowers for your mom," he said. While Ann Marie always appreciates Howie's flowers, Jaclyn assured him she'd rather have them arrive as soon as possible.

"I'm already in the turning lane," he said, and pulled into the William Penn Inn. Jaclyn was flummoxed when he got out of the car, and came around to her side.

He tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Open the door," he said. She hit the wrong button and rolled up the window. Finally, Jaclyn was out of the car. And then Howie was on one knee.

When they got to Jaclyn's parents' house, both families were waiting to celebrate.

The couple were married in a traditional Catholic ceremony at the place they first met: Old St. Joe's.

There were four priests and a seminarian on the altar: Bishop Timothy Senior, the bride's uncle, officiated. He was assisted by Howie's friend and seminarian, AJ Rizzo, Society of Jesus, who had suggested Howie take the leadership course; and the Rev. Ryan J. Maher, a friend and mentor of the groom's since St. Joe's Prep. The Rev. James McGuinn and the Rev. Christopher Ford also participated.

They prayed for Jaclyn's grandmother, Rita, who passed away in November, and Howie's grandfather, Howard - Teddy to Howie - who died in January. They also prayed for the St. Joe's and Syracuse basketball teams. The petitions were read by Jaclyn's friend, Sarah, who had encouraged her to take the leadership course.

Their cake topper was a bobble Hawk - the mascot of both St. Joe's prep and St. Joseph's University.

Instead of favors, the couple made donations in honor of their 170 guests to the nonprofit boards they sit on: Nutritional Development Services of Philadelphia, which operates community food cupboards, and InspiriTech, which helps people with disabilities find jobs in IT.

Their first dance was to Bobby Darin's "More." The Jesuit concept of magis translates to striving to do more for the greater good. That was the couple's wedding theme.

During his speech, Howie's father told everyone that before Grandpa Teddy died, he said he wished he could attend the wedding. "I want my soul to be there in some way," he told his son.

Howard III said he had no doubt his father's soul was watching his grandson's big day. But just to be sure, he was wearing Howie's grandpa's shoes. "Literally, my father's sole is here." The guests laughed through tears.

Jaclyn was told to pause before walking down the aisle, for train-straightening. When she saw Howie, and all their friends and family clustered in the small church, she took a few extra moments. "I felt like I was soaking it in," she said. "There was so much emotion coming at me."

Howie could watch the couple's parents and the matron of honor enter the sanctuary, even before they walked down the aisle. When it was Jaclyn's turn, the guests all stood, blocking his view. "I was jumping up in the air, trying to get a glimpse of her," he said. "All I could see was the top of her veil." Then, there she was. They locked eyes. "It was such a calm, lovely moment," he said. "That's what Jaclyn has always brought to my life - such a sense of calm and grace."

A bargain: The couple had planned to spend $250 on a pianist for the cocktail hour. But Howie's friend, Sonny Leo, played as their wedding gift.

The splurge: Jaclyn's thrifty side wanted her to make inexpensive centerpieces. But her minimalist side couldn't stand the thought of storing them. She spent $20 each to rent 48 lanterns from her florist.

Ten days in St. Thomas.

BEHIND

THE

SCENES

Officiant

Uncle of the bride, Bishop Timothy C. Senior, auxiliary

bishop of Philadelphia, rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood

Venues

Old Saint Joseph's Church, Philadelphia;

the Racquet Club of Philadelphia

Food

Marc Liss, Jeffrey A. Miller Catering Company, Lansdowne

Music

Ceremony: Normand Gouin, Philadelphia; Cocktail hour: Sonny Leo, Wilmington, Del.; Reception: DiNardo Brothers Entertainment, Sewell, Gloucester County

Photography

Chris Hensel Wedding Photography, Media

Flowers

Eric Schellack, Robertson's Flowers, Chestnut Hill

Dress

Mori Lee, purchased

at the Country Bride and Gent,

West Point, Pa.

Invitations

Bestway Printing Services, Lansdale