MARRIAGE AND FAMILY - Annulment Fees Eliminated - Shrine of St. Jude Catholic Church

All Catholics who seek to be married are required by Canon Law to be married according to the rites of the Catholic Church unless given a dispensation from the bishop. With the decision by Cardinal Wuerl to eliminate all fees associated with the annulment process in the Archdiocese of Washington now is a wonderful opportunity for those Catholics who have been married outside of the Church to consider convalidation.

What is convalidation? Convalidation is simply a process whereby a couple gives their marriage consent before the Church’s minister according to the rites of the Church. This validates the marriage in the eyes of God and the Church and allows the couple to share in the full sacramental life of the Church.

To learn more please contact the parish office at 301-946-8200 to speak with a priest for a private consultation.

FEES ELIMINATED!
Effective immediately all fees associated with the annulment process in the Archdiocese of Washington have been eliminated. This decision by Cardinal Wuerl comes in the Jubilee Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis to begin on December 8, 2015. In his address to the Roman Rota in January, our Holy Father indicated how important it is that each tribunal assists those who wish to return to the sacraments. He commented “How I wish all marriage proceedings were free of charge!”

Up to now the Archdiocese has subsidized the annulment process for anyone who approached the tribunal waving the fees for anyone who were unable to pay the fees. With the elimination of these fees it is now our hope that anyone who may have been reluctant to approach the Tribunal will now feel welcome to submit their case.

This is a wonderful opportunity for those Catholics who have been married outside of the Church to seek convalidation of their marriage, or for those who were previously married and divorced to submit their petition for nullity to the tribunal.

To learn more please contact the parish office to speak with a priest for a private consultation.