The Tribunal Advocate Program
The Tribunal Advocate Program is a group of trained deacons and laypersons who provide canonical counsel to the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Atlanta seeking a declaration of nullity in our Tribunal. Advocates have a formal role in the canonical trial and work to defend their party’s rights and advance their interests in the marriage nullity process.
How Do I Find an Advocate?
Scroll down to find a complete list of commissioned Advocates and their contact information.
How Do I Become an Advocate?
To become an Advocate, you must complete the Tribunal Advocate Training Program. The course is conducted in person at the Chancery and virtually via the Microsoft Teams platform. The curriculum consists of seven sessions covering marriage law, grounds of marital invalidity and the annulment process. The sessions consist of instruction by a canonist, exercises, homework, quizzes, and a final exam. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. In order to participate in these sessions virtually, you will need a computer with a camera, speakers and microphone. Mobile devices are not acceptable. Qualified candidates will possess the following skills: organized, responsible, good pastoral/interpersonal skills, strong reading & writing ability, professional demeanor and capacity to maintain confidentiality and be in good standing with the Catholic Church. Currently, the course is offered in English with some resources available in Spanish. We plan to introduce a Spanish language version in the future.
You can apply to become a Tribunal Advocate Here. Along with your application, you will need to submit a letter of recommendation from your pastor. You will also need to complete the VIRTUS safe environment program and a background check. All applicants must have a social security number in order to be background checked. Taxpayer identification numbers are insufficient for performing a background check. If you are an active volunteer at your parish, you may have already fulfilled these requirements. To sign up for the VIRTUS program please visit the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Training webpage.
If you have any questions, please call the Metropolitan Tribunal at 404-920-7500 or Tribunal@archatl.com.
Commissioned Advocates
Below is a list of Advocates commissioned to serve in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. All Advocates have completed an extensive training curriculum covering marriage law, grounds of marital invalidity and the annulment process. If you are interested in petitioning for a declaration of nullity or just wish to learn more about the annulment process, please contact the Advocate in closest proximity to you.
Advocate List: September 19, 2024
Last Name | First Name | Parish | City | Deanery | P-Telephone | Advocate email | Fluent in |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adams | Brett | Saint George | Newnan | Southwest | 770-251-5353 | badams@atladvocate.com | English |
Alexander | Deacon Lennison | Our Lady of Lourdes | Atlanta | Central | 404-522-6776 | lalexander@atladvocate.com | English |
Armstrong | Dianne | Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock | Woodstock | Northwest Metro | 770-516-0009 | darmstrong@atladvocate.com | English/ German |
Bailey (Jr) | John | Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hartwell | Hartwell | East | 706-376-4112 | jbailey@atladvocate.com | English |
Barrera | Esequiel | Saint Joseph, Athens | Athens | East | 706-548-6332 | ebarrera@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Beals | Deacon David | Our Lady of the Mountains | Jasper | Northwest | 706-253-3078 | dbeals@atladvocate.com | English |
Biglow | Deacon Ernest (Terry) | Our Lady of the Assumption, Brookhaven | Brookhaven | Central | 404-261-7181 | ebiglow@atladvocate.com | English |
Blackwell | Gina Marie | Christ the Redeemer | Dawsonville | Northeast | 706-265-1361 | gblackwell@atladvocate.com | English |
Bohn | Deacon William | Saint Michael, Gainesville | Gainesville | Northeast | 770-534-3338 | wbohn@atladvocate.com | English |
Bowman | Andrea | Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | 770-487-7672 | English | |
Boyd | Deacon William | Mary Our Queen | Peachtree Corners | Northeast Metro | 770-416-0002 | wboyd@atladvocate.com | English |
Bui | Cuong | Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | 770-472-9963 | cbui@atladvocate.com | English/ Vietnamese |
Bui | Deacon Thang | Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | 770-472-9963 | tbui@atladvocate.com | English/ Vietnamese |
Butrum | Leigh Anne | Mary Our Queen | Peachtree Corners | Northeast Metro | 770-416-0002 | lbutrum@atladvocate.com | English |
Camden | Patricia | All Saints | Dunwoody | North Metro | 770-393-3255 | pcamden@atladvocate.com | English |
Capezzuto | Rebecca | Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | 770-487-7672 | rcapezzuto@atladvocate.com | English |
Chrisman | Patricia | Saint Lawrence | Lawrenceville | Northeast Metro | 770-963-8992 | pchrisman@atladvocate.com | English |
Cintron | Deacon Rafael | Saint Catherine of Siena | Kennesaw | Northwest Metro | 770-428-7139 | rcintron@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Coffman | Peter | Our Lady of the Assumption, Brookhaven | Brookhaven | Central | 404-261-7181 | pcoffman@atladvocate.com | English |
Correa Diaz | Maria | Saint John Paul II | Gainesville | Northeast | 770-532-6772 | mcorreadiaz@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Crowley | Deacon Joe | Saint Peter Chanel | Roswell | North Metro | 678-277-9424 | jcrowley@atladvocate.com | English |
De Jarnett | Patricia | Saint Joseph, Marietta | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-422-5633 | pdejarnett1@atladvocate.com | English |
De Santis | Alice | Transfiguration | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-977-1442 | adesantis@atladvocate.com | English |
DeBow | Karren | Christ Our Hope | Lithonia | Northeast Metro | 770-482-5017 | kdebow@atladvocate.com | English |
Dimond | Deacon Timothy | Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | 770-442-5903 | tdimond@atladvocate.com | English |
Diprima | Alice | Christ the Redeemer | Dawsonville | Northeast | 706-265-1361 | adiprima@atladvocate.com | English |
Doppel | Deacon Paul | Saint Luke the Evangelist | Dahlonega | Northeast | 706-864-4779 | pdoppel@atladvocate.com | English |
Ecuyer | Consuelo | Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Atlanta | Central | 404-636-1418 | cecuyer@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Eden | Deacon Thomas | Saint Mary Magdalene | Newnan | Southwest | 770-253-1888 | teden@atladvocate.com | English |
Faas | Souraya | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | sfaas@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Gant | Deacon Derek | Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | 770-442-5903 | dgant@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Garcia | Teresa | Saint Thomas More | Decatur | Central | 404-378-4588 | tgarcia@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Gelakoska | Marianne | Saint Anthony, Blue Ridge | Blue Ridge | Northwest | 706-632-5970 | mgelakoska@atladvocate.com | English |
Gibson | Deacon James | Our Lady of the Mountains | Jasper | Northwest | 706-253-3078 | jgibson@atladvocate.com | English |
Grebe | Deacon James | Holy Family | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-973-0038 | jgrebe@atladvocate.com | English |
Green-Armstrong | Joy | Transfiguration | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-977-1442 | jgreen-armstrong@atladvocate.com | English |
Gries | Matthew | Mary Our Queen | Peachtree Corners | Northeast Metro | 770-416-0002 | mgries@atladvocate.com | English |
Haas | Johanna (Jody) | Christ Our King and Savior | Greensboro | Southeast | 706-453-7292 | jhaas@atladvocate.com | English |
Harkins | Deacon James (Chrys) | Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Carrollton | Southwest | 770-832-8977 | jharkins@atladvocate.com | English |
Harrison | Bryan | Holy Spirit | Atlanta | Central | 404-252-4513 | bharrison@atladvocate.com | English |
Hernandez Oneto | Juan Jose | Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Carrollton | Southwest | 770-832-8977 | jhernandez@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Hogan | Deacon Richard | Saint Lawrence | Lawrenceville | Northeast Metro | 770-963-8992 | rhogan@atladvocate.com | English |
Hosack | Coleen | Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock | Woodstock | Northwest Metro | 770-516-0009 | chosack@atladvocate.com | |
Huff | Deacon Tom | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | thuff@atladvocate.com | English |
Huynh | Deacon Hung (Peter) | Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | 770-472-9963 | phuynh@atladvocate.com | English/ Vietnamese |
James | Kevin | Saint Joseph, Athens | Athens | East | 706-548-6332 | kjames@atladvocate.com | English |
Johnson | Theresa | Saints Peter and Paul | Decatur | Central | 404-241-5862 | tjohnson@atladvocate.com | English |
Jones | Charles | Cathedral of Christ the King | Atlanta | Central | 404-233-2145 | cjones@atladvocate.com | English |
Kazin | Deacon Gerard | Queen of Angels | Thomson | East | 706-595-2913 | gkazin@atladvocate.com | English |
Kelly-Huey | Kathleen | Saint Mary Magdalene | Newnan | Southwest | 770-253-1888 | kkelly-huey@atladvocate.com | English |
Krause | Matthew | Chancery | Smyrna | 404-920-7518 | mkrause@archatl.com | English | |
Kren | Deacon Richard | Saint Stephen the Martyr | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-381-7488 | rkren@atladvocate.com | English |
Le | Kevin | Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcross | Northeast Metro | 770-921-0077 | kle@atladvocate.com | English/ Vietnamese |
Lemon | Robert | Saint John Neumann | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-923-6633 | rlemon@atladvocate.com | English |
Leon | Katia | Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock | Woodstock | Northwest Metro | 770-516-0009 | kleon@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Lopez | Carlos | Divino Niño Jesús | Duluth | Northeast Metro | 678-417-7912 | clopez@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Lorza | Deacon Luis | Saint Brendan the Navigator | Cumming | North Metro | 770-205-7969 | llorza@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Lucas | Caroline | Saint Francis of Assisi, Blairsville | Blairsville | Northeast | 706-745-6400 | clucas@atladvocate.com | English |
Maddox | Maria | Christ Our King and Savior | Greensboro | Southeast | 706-453-7292 | mmaddox@atladvocate.com | English/Spanish |
Mangan | Jean | Saint Joseph, Athens | Athens | East | 706-548-6332 | jmangan@atladvocate.com | English |
Matos | Giselt | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | gmatos@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
McAdam | Paul | Saint Joseph, Athens | Athens | East | 706-548-6332 | pmcadam@atladvocate.com | English |
McBride | Kevin | Saint Ann, Marietta | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-552-6400 | kmcbride@atladvocate.com | English |
McGivney | Deacon Thomas | Saint Thomas Aquinas | Alpharetta | North Metro | 770-475-4501 | tmcgivney@atladvocate.com | English |
Menzies | Mark | Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus | Atlanta | Central | 404-522-6800 | mmenzies@atladvocate.com | English |
Morgan | Deacon James(Jamie) | Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | 770-442-5903 | jmorgan@atladvocate.com | English |
Neslin | Deacon Stuart | Saint Mary, Rome | Rome | Northwest | 706-295-7014 | sneslin@atladvocate.com | English |
Nguyen | Son | Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcross | Northeast Metro | 770-921-0077 | snguyen@atladvocate.com | English/ Vietnamese |
Nguyen | Tuan | Saint Michael, Gainesville | Gainesville | Northeast | 770-534-3338 | tnguyen@atladvocate.com | English |
Nungesser | Deacon Michael | Saint Matthew, Winder | Winder | East | 770-867-4876 | mnungesser@atladvocate.com | English |
Odom, Jr | Deacon Joseph | Saint John Neumann | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-923-6633 | jodom@atladvocate.com | English |
Ollick | Deacon Greg | Christ Our King and Savior | Greensboro | Southeast | 706-453-7292 | gollick@atladvocate.com | English |
Oppermann | Christopher | Holy Spirit | Atlanta | Central | 404-252-4513 | coppermann@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Parkinson | Mary | Saint Peter Chanel | Roswell | North Metro | 678-277-9424 | mparkinson@atladvocate.com | English |
Pasden | Grace | Saint Jude the Apostle | Atlanta | North Metro | 770-394-3896 | gpasden@atladvocate.com | English |
Patterson | Deacon Edward | Our Lady of the Assumption, Brookhaven | Brookhaven | Central | 404-261-7181 | epatterson@atladvocate.com | English |
Perez Barreto | Martha | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | mbarreto@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Pham | Hien | Saint Michael, Gainesville | Gainesville | Northeast | 770-534-3338 | hpham@atladvocate.com | English/ Vietnamese |
Ponce | Deacon Jose (Igor) | Saint Francis of Assisi, Cartersville | Cartersville | Northwest | 770-382-4549 | jponce@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Ponce | Renee | Saint Francis of Assisi, Cartersville | Cartersville | Northwest | 770-382-4549 | rponce@atladvocate.com | English |
Puetz | Deacon John | Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | 770-442-5903 | jpuetz@atladvocate.com | English |
Pusch | Kathryne Anne | Saint Pius X | Conyers | Southeast | 770-483-3660 | kpusch@atladvocate.com | English |
Rago | Jacquelyn | Saint Stephen the Martyr | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-381-7488 | jrago@atladvocate.com | English |
Reandelar | Jose | Saint Clare of Assisi | Acworth | Northwest Metro | 770-485-0825 | jreandelar@atladvocate.com | English/ Tagalog |
Reyes | Lisette | Nuestra Senora de las Americas | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-717-1517 | lreyes@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Ritchie | Jennifer | Saint George | Newnan | Southwest | 770-251-5353 | jritchie@atladvocate.com | English |
Ritzka | Timothy | Holy Cross | Atlanta | Northeast Metro | 770-939-3501 | tritzka@atladvocate.com | English |
Roberts | Susan | Saint Thomas the Apostle | Smyrna | Northwest Metro | 770-432-8579 | sroberts@atladvocate.com | English |
Rodriguez | Deacon Claro | Saint Peter Chanel | Roswell | North Metro | 678-277-9424 | crodriguez@atladvocate.com | English/ Tagalog |
Runyan | Michael | Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | 770-487-7672 | mrunyan@atladvocate.com | English |
Seong | Jeong | Korean Martyrs | Doraville | Northeast Metro | 770-455-1380 | jseong@atladvocate.com | English/ Korean |
Sevilla | Deacon Hedy | Good Shepherd | Cumming | North Metro | 770-887-9861 | hsevilla@atladvocate.com | English/ Tagalog |
Sevilla | Deacon Jaime | Saint Oliver Plunkett | Snellville | Northeast Metro | 770-979-2500 | jsevilla@atladvocate.com | Spanish |
Shelton | Terry | Transfiguration | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-977-1442 | tshelton@atladvocate.com | English |
Shenkle | Gordon | Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | 770-487-7672 | gshenkle@atladvocate.com | English |
Shlapak | Steven | Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus | Atlanta | Central | 404-522-6800 | sshlapak@atladvocate.com | English |
Sholander | Deacon Mark | Saint Catherine Laboure | Jefferson | Northeast | 706-367-7220 | msholander@atladvocate.com | English |
Smilski | Deacon Phillip (Greg) | Saint Joseph, Marietta | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-422-5633 | psmilski@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Spera | Sandy | Saint Brendan the Navigator | Cumming | North Metro | 770-205-7969 | sspera@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Stinson | Deacon Kelly | Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock | Woodstock | Northwest Metro | 770-516-0009 | kstinson@atladvocate.com | English |
Stoddard | Benjamin | Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church | Roswell | Eastern Rite | 770-993-0973 | bstoddard@atladvocate.com | English |
Stoehr | Nancy | Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hartwell | Hartwell | East | 706-376-4112 | nstoehr1@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Stoughton | George (Warren) | Saint Jude the Apostle | Atlanta | North Metro | 770-394-3896 | wstoughton@atladvocate.com | English |
Studaway | Mary Ann | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | mstudaway@atladvocate.com | English |
Swope | Deacon Steve | Saint Mary Magdalene | Newnan | Southwest | 770-253-1888 | sswope@atladvocate.com | English |
Tahsler | Deacon Mark | Saint Catherine of Siena | Kennesaw | Northwest Metro | 770-428-7139 | Mtahsler@atladvocate.com | English |
Taveras | Daniel | Transfiguration | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-977-1442 | dtaveras@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish |
Thibodeau | Deacon Richard | Saint Paul the Apostle | Cleveland | Northeast | 706-865-4474 | rthibodeau@atladvocate.com | English/ French |
Thibodeaux | Deacon Gerard | Good Shepherd | Cumming | North Metro | 770-887-9861 | gthibodeaux@atladvocate.com | English |
Topper | Deacon Wayne | Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock | Woodstock | Northwest Metro | 770-516-0009 | wtopper@atladvocate.com | English |
Turner | Sherry | Prince of Peace | Flowery Branch | Northeast Metro | 678-960-0040 | sturner@atladvocate.com | English |
Tye | Deacon Timothy | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | ttye@atladvocate.com | English |
Underwood | Deacon Froilan (Allen) | Holy Spirit | Atlanta | Central | 404-252-4513 | aunderwood@atladvocate.com | English/ Spanish/ Tagalog |
Vu | Deacon Thang | Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcross | Northeast Metro | 770-921-0077 | tvu@atladvocate.com | English/ Vietnamese |
Walter | Deacon Tom | Prince of Peace | Flowery Branch | Northeast Metro | 678-960-0040 | twalter@atladvocate.com | English |
Wolf | Deacon James | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | jwolf@atladvocate.com | English |
Last Name | First Name | Parish | City | Deanery | P-Telephone | Advocate email | Fluent in |