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 can be completed remotely using a “distance learning” format. The curriculum consists of ten lessons covering marriage law, grounds of marital invalidity and the annulment process. Each lesson contains an exercise to be submitted via email and graded by a Tribunal canonist. Qualified candidates will possess the following skills: organized, responsible, good pastoral/interpersonal skills, strong reading & writing ability, professional demeanor and capacity to maintain confidentiality. Currently, the course is offered in English. We plan to introduce a Spanish language version in 2020.
The application for the Tribunal Advocate Program is now available. Along with your application to the Tribunal Advocate Program, you will need to submit a letter of recommendation from your pastor if you are not already a current Case Sponsor. You will also need to complete the VIRTUS safe environment program and 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 Christine DiMartino, Senior Office Administrator of the Metropolitan Tribunal at 404-920-7509 or cdimartino@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.
Parish | Parish location | Deanery | Last Name | First Name | Email address | Fluent in | Parish Telephone Number | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Lady of Lourdes | Atlanta | Central | Alexander | Deacon Lennison | lalexander@atladvocate.com | English | 404-522-6776 | |
Our Lady of the Assumption | Brookhaven | Central | Anugerah | Deacon Antonius | aanugerah@atladvocate.com | English, Indonesian | 404-261-7181 | |
Saint Michael the Archangel | Woodstock | NW Metro | Armstrong | Dianne | darmstrong@atladvocate.com | English, German | 770-516-0009 | |
Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | Astorga | Rosa Ileana | rastorga@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-478-0178 | |
Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | Bailey | Sandra | sbailey@atladvocate.com | English | 770-478-0178 | |
Saint Joseph | Marietta | NW Metro | Benson | Kim | kbenson@atladvocate.com | English | 770-422-5633 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Blackwell | Gina Marie | gblackwell@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Saint Michael | Gainesville | NE | Bohn | Deacon William | wbohn@atladvocate.com | English | 770-534-3338 | |
Mary Our Queen | Peachtree Corners | NE Metro | Boyd | Deacon William | wboyd@atladvocate.com | English | 770-416-0002 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Briselden | Patricia | pbriselden@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Saint Oliver Plunkett | Snellville | NE Metro | Bry | Susan | sbry@atladvocate.com | English | 770-979-2500 | |
Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | Bui | Thang | tbui@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-472-9963 | |
Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | Bui | Cuong | cbui@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-472-9963 | |
Saint Francis of Assisi | Blairsville | NE | Burrell | Jason | jburrell@atladvocate.com | English | 706-745-6400 | |
Our Lady of the Mountains | Jasper | NW | Butti | Kathryn | kbutti@atladvocate.com | English | 706-253-3078 | |
Saint Joseph | Dalton | NW | Caliz | Daniel | dcaliz@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 706-278-3107 | |
All Saints Catholic Church | Dunwoody | North Metro | Camden | Patricia | pcamden@atladvocate.com | English | 770-393-3255 | |
Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | Cao | Hung | hcao@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-472-9963 | |
Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | Capezzuto | Rebecca | rcapezzuto@atladvocate.com | English | 770-487-7672 | |
Saint Michael | Gainesville | NE | Cavedon | Matthew | mcavedon@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-534-3338 | |
Saint Oliver Plunkett | Snellville | NE Metro | Chavez | Deacon Michael | mchavez@atladvocate.com | English | 770-979-2500 | |
Saint Lawrence | Lawrenceville | NE Metro | Chrisman | Patricia | pchrisman@atladvocate.com | English | 770-963-8992 | |
Saint Oliver Plunkett | Snellville | NE Metro | Cintron | Deacon Rafael | rcintron@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-979-2500 | |
Saint George | Newnan | SW | Craig | Tracie | tcraig@atladvocate.com | English | 770-251-5353 | |
Saint Peter Chanel | Roswell | North Metro | Crowley | Deacon Joe | jcrowley@atladvocate.com | English | 678-277-9424 | |
Transfiguration | Marietta | NW Metro | De Santis | Alice | adesantis@atladvocate.com | English | 770-977-1442 | |
Saint Thomas More | Decatur | Central | DiBlasi | Corinne | cdiblasi@atladvocate.com | English | 404-378-4588 | |
Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | Dimond | Deacon Timothy | tdimond@atladvocate.com | English | 770-442-5903 | |
Christ the Redeemer | Dawsonville | NE | Diprima | Alice | adiprima@atladvocate.com | English | 706-265-1361 | |
Christ the Redeemer | Dawsonville | NE | Doppel | Deacon Paul | pdoppel@atladvocate.com | English | 706-265-1361 | |
Saint Luke the Evangelist | Dahlonega | NE | Doppel | Deacon Paul | pdoppel@atladvocate.com | English | 706-864-4779 | |
Immaculate Heart of Mary | Atlanta | Central | Ecuyer | Consuelo | cecuyer@atladvocate.com | English | 404-636-1418 | |
Saint Clare | Acworth | NW Metro | Ehlers | Victor | vehlers@atladvocate.com | English | 770-485-0825 | |
Saint Brendan | Cumming | North Metro | Fraser | Roger Alan | rfraser@atladvocate.com | English | 770-205-7969 | |
Saint Michael | Gainesville | NE | Fuentes | Olga | ofuentes@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-534-3338 | |
Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | Gant | Deacon Derek | dgant@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-442-5903 | |
Saint Thomas More | Decatur | Central | Garcia | Teresa | tgarcia@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 404-378-4588 | |
Saint Gabriel Church | Fayetteville | South | Godlasky | Rebecca | bgodlasky@atladvocate.com | English, German | 770-461-0492 | |
Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | Guarino | Judith | jguarino@atladvocate.com | English | 770-478-0178 | |
Cathedral of Christ the King | Atlanta | Central | Guzman | Dr. Luis | lguzman@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 404-233-2145 | |
Christ Our King and Savior | Greensboro | SE | Haas | Johanna (Jody) | jhaas@atladvocate.com | English | 706-453-7292 | |
Saint Michael the Archangel | Woodstock | NW Metro | Hanson | Richard | rhanson@atladvocate.com | English | 770-516-0009 | |
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church | Carrollton | SW | Harkins | Deacon Chrys | charkins@atladvocate.com | English | 770-832-8977 | |
Holy Spirit | Atlanta | Central | Harrison | Bryan | bharrison@atladvocate.com | English | 404-252-4513 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Hein | Deacon Henry | hhein@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Saint Stephen the Martyr | Lilburn | NE Metro | Hoeckele | Andy | ahoeckele@atladvocate.com | English | 770-381-7488 | |
Saint Lawrence | Lawrenceville | NE Metro | Hogan | Deacon Richard | rhogan@atladvocate.com | English | 770-963-8992 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Huff | Deacon Tom | thuff@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | Huynh | Deacon Hung (Peter) | phuynh@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-472-9963 | |
Saint Thomas the Apostle | Smyrna | NW Metro | Jackson, Sr | Deacon Earl | ejackson@atladvocate.com | English | 770-432-8579 | |
Saint Joseph | Athens | East | James | Kevin | kjames@atladvocate.com | English | 706-548-6332 | |
Saints Peter and Paul | Decatur | Central | Johnson | Theresa | tjohnson@atladvocate.com | English | 404-241-5862 | |
Cathedral of Christ the King | Atlanta | Central | Jones | Charles | cjones@atladvocate.com | English | 404-233-2145 | |
Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | Kazin | Deacon Gerard | gkazin@atladvocate.com | English | 770-442-5903 | |
St Mary Magdalene | Newnan | SW | Kelly-Huey | Kathleen | kkelly-huey@atladvocate.com | English | 770-253-1888 | |
Saint Jude the Apostle | Sandy Springs | North Metro | Lewis | Kristen | klewis@atladvocate.com | English | 770-394-3896 | |
Catholic Center at UGA | Athens | East | Lopes | Milton | mlopes@atladvocate.com | English | 706-543-2293 | |
Saint Brendan | Cumming | North Metro | Lorza | Deacon Luis | llorza@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-205-7969 | |
Saint Francis of Assisi | Blairsville | NE | Lucas | Caroline | clucas@atladvocate.com | English | 706-745-6400 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Maio | Mary | mmaio@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Martineck | Christine | cmartineck@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Saint Ann | Marietta | NW Metro | Mawn | Rusty | rmawn@atladvocate.com | English | 770-552-6400 | |
Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | Mobley | Michael | mmobley@atladvocate.com | English | 770-487-7672 | |
Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | Morgan | Deacon Jamie | jmorgan@atladvocate.com | English | 770-442-5903 | |
Saint Mary | Rome | NW | Neslin | Deacon Stuart | sneslin@atladvocate.com | English | 706-295-7014 | |
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcorss | NE Metro | Nguyen | Chris | cnguyen@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-921-0077 | |
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcorss | NE Metro | Nguyen | Son | snguyen@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese, French | 770-921-0077 | |
Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | Nguyen | Hung | hnguyen@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-472-9963 | |
Saint James the Apostle | McDonough | SE | Nichols | Barbara | bnichols@atladvocate.com | English | 770-957-5441 | |
Saint Thomas More | Decatur | Central | Nicolatos | Mary | mnicolatos@atladvocate.com | English | 404-378-4588 | |
Our Lady of the Mountains | Jasper | NW | O'Hern Lehr | Ann | ao'HernLehr@atladvocate.com | English | 706-253-3078 | |
Saint Mary's | Toccoa | NE | Ollick | Deacon Greg | gollick@atladvocate.com | English | 404-886-2819 | |
Good Samaritan | Ellijay | NW | Orf | Deacon Greg | gorf@atladvocate.com | English | 706-636-2772 | |
Saint Brendan | Cumming | North Metro | Palmer | Nancy | npalmer@atladvocate.com | English | 770-205-7969 | |
Our Lady of the Assumption | Brookhaven | Central | Patterson | Deacon Edward | epatterson@atladvocate.com | English | 404-261-7181 | |
Sacred Heart of Jesus | Hartwell | East | Phillips | Deacon Barry | bphillips@atladvocate.com | English | 706-376-4112 | |
Saint Catherine of Siena | Kennesaw | NW Metro | Ponichtera | Deacon Stephen | sponichtera@atladvocate.com | English | 770-428-7139 | |
Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | Puetz | Deacon John | jpuetz@atladvocate.com | English | 770-442-5903 | |
Saint Pius X | Conyers | SE | Pusch | Kathryne | kpusch@atladvocate.com | English | 770-483-3660 | |
Saints Peter and Paul | Decatur | Central | Reid | Lynette | lreid@atladvocate.com | English | 404-241-5862 | |
Our Lady of the Americas | Lilburn | NE Metro | Reyes | Lisette | lreyes@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-717-1517 | |
Sacred Heart of Jesus Basilica | Atlanta | Central | Reyes | Lisette | lreyes@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 404-522-6800 | |
Saint George | Newnan | SW | Ritchie | Jennifer | jritchie@atladvocate.com | English | 770-251-5353 | |
Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | Runyan | Michael | mrunyan@atladvocate.com | English | 770-487-7672 | |
Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | Salas Arias | Danilo | darias@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-478-0178 | |
Saint George | Newnan | SW | Schmitz | Kimberly | kschmitz@atladvocate.com | English | 770-251-5353 | |
Korean Martyrs | Doraville | NE Metro | Seong | Jeong | jseong@atladvocate.com | English, Korean | 770-455-1380 | |
All Saints Catholic Church | Dunwoody | North Metro | Sevilla | Deacon Hedy | hsevilla@atladvocate.com | English, Tagalog | 770-393-3255 | |
Saint Thomas Aquinas | Alpharetta | North Metro | Shawcross | Deacon Steven | sshawcross@atladvocate.com | English | 770-475-4501 | |
Transfiguration | Marietta | NW Metro | Shelton | Terry | tshelton@atladvocate.com | English | 770-977-1442 | |
Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | Shenkle | Gordon | gshenkle@atladvocate.com | English | 770-487-7672 | |
Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | Sholander | Deacon Mark | msholander@atladvocate.com | English | 770-487-7672 | |
Saint Joseph | Marietta | NW Metro | Smilski | Deacon Phillip | psmilski@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-422-5633 | |
Saint Brendan | Cumming | North Metro | Spera | Sandy | sspera@atladvocate.com | English, Spanish | 770-205-7969 | |
Saint Jude the Apostle | Sandy Springs | North Metro | Stoughton | Warren | wstoughton@atladvocate.com | English | 770-394-3896 | |
Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | Studaway | Mary Ann | mstudaway@atladvocate.com | English | 770-478-0178 | |
Korean Martyrs | Doraville | NE Metro | Suh | Jaewook "Thomas" | jsuh@atladvocate.com | English, Korean | 770-455-1380 | |
Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | Suwinski | Joanne | jsuwinski@atladvocate.com | English | 770-487-7672 | |
Saint Mary Magdalene | Newnan | SW | Swope | Deacon Steve | sswope@atladvocate.com | English | 770-253-1888 | |
Saint Catherine of Siena | Kennesaw | NW Metro | Thigpen | Leisa | lthigpen@atladvocate.com | English | 770-428-7139 | |
Saint Jude the Apostle | Sandy Springs | North Metro | Tramonte | Deacon James | jtramonte@atladvocate.com | English | 770-394-3896 | |
Prince of Peace | Flowery Branch | NE Metro | Turner | Sherry | sturner@atladvocate.com | English | 678-960-0040 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Tye | Deacon Timothy | ttye@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Holy Spirit | Atlanta | Central | Underwood | Deacon Allen | aunderwood@atladvocate.com | English, Tagalog | 404-252-4513 | |
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcorss | NE Metro | Vu | Kim | kvu@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-921-0077 | |
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcorss | NE Metro | Vu | Thang | tvu@atladvocate.com | English, Vietnamese | 770-921-0077 | |
Prince of Peace | Flowery Branch | NE Metro | Walter | Deacon Tom | twalter@atladvocate.com | English | 678-960-0040 | |
Transfiguration | Marietta | NW Metro | Wesselmann | Dorothy | dwesselmann@atladvocate.com | English | 770-977-1442 | |
Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | Wolf | Deacon James | jwolf@atladvocate.com | English | 678-393-0060 | |
Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | Wright | Barbara | bwright@atladvocate.com | English | 770-478-0178 | |
Parish | Parish location | Deanery | Last Name | First Name | Email address | Fluent in | Parish Telephone Number |