Christina & Justin
Wedding Party
Naureen Surti
Maid of Honor
Naureen and I first met in the 6th grade at St. Luke Catholic School in Irving. We enjoyed the ups and downs of middle school with our beloved Backstreet Boys as our background music. We traversed the zany world of Willy Wonka in an 8th grade musical production. We continued our adventures in high school at The North Hills School. Naureen was my rock during high school. She was a beacon of stability and wisdom to me during some very difficult times. Naureen has a heart of finest gold. She is compassionate, kind, honest, brave, and authentic. She is an advocate for the voiceless and a hope to the weary. Naureen is like an ever blossoming rose with a beauty and sweet aroma that radiates joy, compassion, friendship, and humility. Love you forever.
Andrew Sammut
Best Man
Andrew and Justin met in a Great Books class at Boston University in the Fall of 1999, first discussing The Canterbury Tales. Further goodwill faded quickly when they both discovered they were diehard fans of the Red Sox and Yankees. After the Sox managed to sweep the Bombers in Gotham for the first time in 13 years, Justin offered Andrew a broom at the next class. Andrew failed to see the humor. In the ensuing decades, the two feasted, discussed and argued the things that animated them: the nature of public discourse, politics and political argument, changing norms and mores, Mad Men, the Simpsons and their beloved Saturday Night Live. At a certain point, they realized theirs was blood pack and they were never going to let each other go.
Bernadette McCall
Bridesmaid
Bernadette is my baby sister and forever Denton buddy! She is courageous, passionate, and caring in all that she does. She is the gift bearer who nurtures beauty, growth, reflection, peace, and balance. Bernadette is wise and is not afraid to discover the truth. Having Bernadette as a neighbor during my return to UNT was a blessing and joy. Beth Marie's and fro yo dates, Cafe Brazil and The Square, and lots of "Lil' d" love, Denton was our home. (Dallas is BIG D and Denton is Little d!) Never a dull moment with this blue eyed cutie pie. Bernadette has been a great help in planning this wedding, thank you for your creativity and planning skills. Much love, gratitude, and admiration to you baby sis. The world is yours, do what your heart seeks.
Brendan Dudley
Groomsman
Brendan and Justin met at a Eucharistic Congress in Atlanta in 2015. The two of them quickly recognized their common interests and passions, calling the late theologian, philosopher and social critic, Michael Novak, a friend and mentor. Being from Detroit, Brendan may never understand why Justin will always hate the Bad Boy Piston teams of the late 80s and early 90s. Through many a meal and phone call, Brendan and Justin dissect the goings on of the Church, political world and the cultural undertows of much of it. Justin is still catching up to Brendan's intense knowledge of the 4 Temperments and Myers Briggs personality types. Brendan and Justin do movie quotes and references. Many movie quotes and references.
Bridget McCall
Bridesmaid
The second youngest of my sisters! Bridget is a humanistic traveler and builder of bridges. Her empathy for others is a light to the wandering. One of the things I love most about Bridget is her courage and curiosity to take the unbeaten path. Her love of culture, diversity, and people is a joy to witness. This curiosity and love of culture has taken us on many adventures that I will treasure forever: San Antonio, camping on the beach at Padre Island, Germany loon calls, Munich hostel searches, ice cream and flip flops! Everything about our Greece trip!!! Bridget, you are your own compass. Keep your own unique path, travel with your heart. I love you little sister.
Sean Finn
Groomsman
Justin arrived at Dexter School in Brookline, MA as a 6th grader while Sean and fellow groomsmen, Tim, had been at the school since Kindergarten, a fact that they never let Justin forget. Sean and Justin became friends in 8th grade in the Fall of 1992. Sitting behind him, Sean began to poke him during class at random and Justin would sometimes turn around to pull his finger. Both of Sean's parents hale from Ireland and Justin will always be jealous of Sean's direct, more authentic Irish heritage. The two traveled to Ireland in August '93 just before heading off to different high schools along with Tim, a trip of a lifetime they one day hope to repeat. Friends through thick and thin, Sean and Justin still enjoy super hero movies together.
Theresa Bryant
Bridesmaid
Theresa is my second older sister and mother of Avery and Aidan. She is compassion to the sick and weary. She is always willing to assist those in medical and psychological need, her dedication to those she cares for is an inspiration. Theresa and I have been roommates and coworkers. I will always treasure the memories of our Saturdays at Merry's Christmas and Clowns and our nights at the Opera! Theresa has been a beautiful example of sacrificial love for her children. I have been blessed to be able to be a part of Avery and Aidan's early stages of development. Every "Auntie Day" with my niece and nephew is a new adventure filled with fairy visits, saying "Hi" to the angels, splash days, Lion Guard, Paw Patrol, and of course Elsa, Anna, and Olaf! Much love and gratitude to this trio.
Ross Higginbotham
Groomsman
Ross and Justin met in Atlanta on barstools watching Notre Dame in the fall of 2014. And Ross knew waaaaay more about ND football than Justin could possibly know. (He may even rival Tim Logan whom Ross has never met but are fellow ND grads.) They didn't actually cross paths again for 2 years when Ross was looking to join Justin's small group, a weekly group of fellow young Catholics. Joining is usually a formality, but Justin joked to Ross that the decision was going to be a "hard 'No'" on joining small group. Ross didn't find this New England sarcasm too funny. But they became closer and closer recognizing the inherent frankness and candor in so many areas, both natural sharers. Justin was Best Man for Ross' wedding in March 2020 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame.
Katharina Peterson
Bridesmaid
Katharina is my oldest sister and mother to Austin, Alexander, and Lucas. Katharina is creative, wise, empathetic, and a compassionate advocate for life. She introduced me to my first love, Rome, Italy (it's okay, Justin knows that the Eternal City was my first love!) We are AmeriCorps NCCC Alumni and Art from the Heart loyalists. Katharina has a spirit of adventure that defines her own path. She is not afraid to go beyond borders to find the truth and goodness in all. Katharina is a loving mother and I am grateful to witness and share in the upbringing of my dear nephews. Weekends with The Boys are adventure filled excursions with dinosaurs, robots, pirates, and force fields. I love you and I love being an Aunt to your boys.
Tim Logan
Groomsman
Tim and Justin met on a basketball riser in 6th grade, in February 1991. They both had played an underwhelming shift and Tim had rather maturely commented on our team's "shot selection." Impressed with this precocious basketball knowledge, Justin noticed that Tim wore his basketball high tops laced high and tight like our hero, Larry Bird. Justin needed no further character references for friendship with Tim. Tim and Justin have a kind of unspoken bond that would require lying down in traffic for the other, if it ever came to that. With age, they gingerly talk through their political differences. Over and over. What Tim and Justin will never fight over is their love of the the Red Sox and Notre Dame. Even at age 10, Justin somehow sensed that he'd be friends with Tim decades later.