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 virtually via the GoToMeeting 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, you will need a computer with a camera, speakers and microphone. 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 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 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 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: June 2022
Last Name | First Name | Parish | City | Deanery | Telephone | Fluent in | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alexander | Deacon Lennison | Our Lady of Lourdes | Atlanta | Central | 404-522-6776 | lalexander@atladvocate.com | English |
Alves de Oliveira | Fr Vanderley | Saint Jude the Apostle | Atlanta | North Metro | 770-394-3896 | vadoliveira@archatl.com | English Portuguese Spanish |
Anugerah | Deacon Antonius | Our Lady of the Assumption, Brookhaven | Brookhaven | Central | 404-261-7181 | aanugerah@atladvocate.com | English Indonesian |
Armstrong | Dianne | Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock | Woodstock | Northwest Metro | 770-516-0009 | darmstrong@atladvocate.com | English German |
Astorga | Rosa Ileana | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | rastorga@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Bailey | Sandra | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | sbailey@atladvocate.com | English |
Barrera | Esequiel | Saint Joseph, Athens | Athens | East | 706-548-6332 | ebarrera@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Biglow | Deacon Ernest | Our Lady of the Assumption, Brookhaven | Brookhaven | Central | 404-261-7181 | ebiglow@atladvocate.com | |
Blackwell | Gina Marie | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | gblackwell@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Blount | Percy | Queen of Angels | Thomson | East | 706-595-2913 | pblount@atladvocate.com | English |
Bohn | Deacon William | Saint Michael, Gainesville | Gainesville | Northeast | 770-534-3338 | wbohn@atladvocate.com | 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 | Thang | Our Lady of Vietnam | Riverdale | South | 770-472-9963 | tbui@atladvocate.com | English Vietnamese |
Butrum | Leigh Anne | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | 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 Spanish |
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 |
Crowley | Deacon Joe | Saint Peter Chanel | Roswell | North Metro | 678-277-9424 | jcrowley@atladvocate.com | English |
Croxton | Michael | Christ Our King and Savior | Greensboro | Southeast | 706-453-7292 | mcroxton@atladvocate.com | English |
De Jarnett | Patricia | Saint Joseph, Marietta | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-422-5633 | pdejarnett1@atladvocate.com | English |
De Los Santos Cufre | Maria | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | mdelossantos@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
De Santis | Alice | Transfiguration | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-977-1442 | adesantis@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 |
Ehlers | Victor | Saint Clare of Assisi | Acworth | Northwest Metro | 770-485-0825 | vehlers@atladvocate.com | English |
Faas | Souraya | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | sfaas@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Fraser | Deacon Roger Alan | Saint Andrew | Roswell | North Metro | 770-641-9720 | rfraser@atladvocate.com | English |
Fuentes | Olga | Saint Michael, Gainesville | Gainesville | Northeast | 770-534-3338 | ofuentes@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Gadziala | Rev. Timothy | Saint Peter, LaGrange | LaGrange | Southwest | 706-884-4224 | tgadziala@archatl.com | English |
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 |
Gries | Matthew | Mary Our Queen | Peachtree Corners | Northeast Metro | 770-416-0002 | mgries@atladvocate.com | English |
Guzman | Dr. Luis | Cathedral of Christ the King | Atlanta | Central | 404-233-2145 | lguzman@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
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 | charkins@atladvocate.com | English |
Harrison | Bryan | Holy Spirit | Atlanta | Central | 404-252-4513 | bharrison@atladvocate.com | English |
Hein | Deacon Henry | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | hhein@atladvocate.com | English |
Hoeckele | Andy | Saint Stephen the Martyr | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-381-7488 | ahoeckele@atladvocate.com | English |
Hogan | Deacon Richard | Saint Lawrence | Lawrenceville | Northeast Metro | 770-963-8992 | rhogan@atladvocate.com | English |
Hosack | Coleen | Saint Ann, Marietta | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-552-6400 | 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 | Saint Benedict | Johns Creek | North Metro | 770-442-5903 | gkazin@atladvocate.com | English |
Kelly-Huey | Kathleen | Saint Mary Magdalene | Newnan | Southwest | 770-253-1888 | kkelly-huey@atladvocate.com | English |
Kren | Deacon Richard | Saint Stephen the Martyr | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-381-7488 | rkren@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 |
Luzondo | Lucia | Saint Catherine of Siena | Kennesaw | Northwest Metro | 770-428-7139 | lluzondo1@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Maio | Mary H. | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | mmaio@atladvocate.com | English |
Matos | Giselt | Saint Philip Benizi | Jonesboro | South | 770-478-0178 | gmatos@atladvocate.com | |
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 French Vietnamese |
Nguyen | Rev. Young (Dung) | Sacred Heart, Milledgeville | Milledgeville | Southeast | 478-452-2421 | dnguyen@archatl.com | English Vietnamese |
Odom, Jr | Joseph | Saint John Neumann | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-923-6633 | jodom@atladvocate.com | English |
Ollick | Deacon Greg | Saint Mary, Tocca | Toccoa | Northeast | 706-886-2819 | gollick@atladvocate.com | English |
Oppermann | Christopher | Holy Spirit | Atlanta | Central | 404-252-4513 | coppermann@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Orf | Deacon Charles | Good Samaritan | Ellijay | Northwest | 706-636-2772 | gorf@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 |
Phillips | Deacon Barry | Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hartwell | Hartwell | East | 706-376-4112 | bphillips@atladvocate.com | English |
Polanco | Deacon Luis | Saint Catherine Laboure | Jefferson | Northeast | 706-367-7220 | lpolanco@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Ponce | Deacon Jose (Igor) | Saint Clare of Assisi | Acworth | Northwest Metro | 770-485-0825 | jponce@atladvocate.com | English Spanish |
Ponce | Renee | Saint Clare of Assisi | Acworth | Northwest Metro | 770-485-0825 | 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 |
Reyes | Lisette | Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus | Atlanta | Central | 404-522-6800 | 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 | 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 |
Selvaraj | Rev. Balappa | Saint Stephen the Martyr | Lilburn | Northeast Metro | 770-381-7488 | sbalappa@archatl.com | English |
Seong | Jeong | Korean Martyrs | Doraville | Northeast Metro | 770-455-1380 | jseong@atladvocate.com | English Korean |
Sevilla | Deacon Hedy | All Saints | Dunwoody | North Metro | 770-393-3255 | hsevilla@atladvocate.com | English Tagalog |
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 |
Sholander | Deacon Mark | Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | 770-487-7672 | msholander@atladvocate.com | English |
Shuler | Rev. Thomas | Our Lady of the Mount, Lookout Mountain | Lookout Mountain | Northwest | 706-820-0680 | tshuler@archatl.com | English |
Smilski | Deacon Phillip (Greg) | Saint Joseph, Marietta | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-422-5633 | psmilski@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 |
Suwinski | Joanne | Holy Trinity | Peachtree City | South | 770-487-7672 | jsuwinski@atladvocate.com | English |
Swope | Deacon Steve | Saint Mary Magdalene | Newnan | Southwest | 770-253-1888 | sswope@atladvocate.com | English |
Tahsler | 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 | Richard | Saint Paul the Apostle | Cleveland | Northeast | 706-865-4474 | rthibodeau@atladvocate.com | English French |
Thibodeaux | Gerard | Good Shepherd | Cumming | North Metro | 770-887-9861 | gthibodeaux@atladvocate.com | English |
Thigpen | Leisa | Saint Helena | Clayton | Northeast | 706-782-5152 | lthigpen@atladvocate.com | English |
Topper | Wayne | Saint Michael the Archangel, Woodstock | Woodstock | Northwest Metro | 770-516-0009 | wtopper@atladvocate.com | English |
Tramonte | Deacon James | Saint Catherine of Siena | Kennesaw | Northwest Metro | 770-428-7139 | jtramonte1@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 | Kim | Holy Vietnamese Martyrs | Norcross | Northeast Metro | 770-921-0077 | kvu@atladvocate.com | English Vietnamese |
Vu | 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 |
Wesselmann | Dorothy | Transfiguration | Marietta | Northwest Metro | 770-977-1442 | dwesselmann@atladvocate.com | English |
Wolf | Deacon James | Saint Brigid | Johns Creek | North Metro | 678-393-0060 | jwolf@atladvocate.com | English |
Young | Deacon Brad | Saint Catherine of Siena | Kennesaw | Northwest Metro | 770-428-7139 | byoung@atladvocate.com | English |
Last Name | First Name | Parish | City | Deanery | Telephone | Fluent in |