When Hannah and Mario Villasenor, parishioners at St. Therese Catholic Church in Jackson, signed up for an Engaged Encounter weekend before their wedding in October 2021, they never imagined they would one day be a presenting couple.
“We thought someone would call us once we had been married long enough or had somehow become good enough at marriage,” Hannah laughed. “So, when Debbie Tubertini, from the Office of Family Ministry, reached out and asked us to present, we were honestly surprised. We did not think she meant us!”
Their first weekend as a presenting couple was in April 2023. Since then, Hannah and Mario have found joy and purpose in sharing their story with other engaged couples preparing for the sacrament of marriage.

“We remember what it felt like to sit in those chairs, listening to the presenters and thinking, ‘Wow, they really have it all figured out,’” said Mario. “Even though they told us they were not experts, it sure seemed like they were.”
Now as presenters, Hannah and Mario strive to offer something different and authentic. “We want the couples to take what resonates and use it in their own relationships,” Mario said. “There’s no such thing as a perfect marriage –just two people choosing every day to love and serve one another the best they can.”
Beyond helping others, the experience has deepened their own relationship. “It’s a chance to pause, reflect on our own marriage, and grow. We leave each retreat reminded of why we said yes in the first place,” according to Hannah.
Hannah and Mario expressed gratitude to those who support the Catholic Service Appeal, “Your gifts are changing lives,” Mario said. “They’re helping couples build strong, faith-filled foundations for their future. If you have not yet given, we hope you will consider it. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.”