Chapter 11 Court Required Notification

Isolation_Mode

Learn About the Annulment Process

Divorced Catholics who wish to remarry in the Church must first be granted a declaration of nullity, commonly referred to as an annulment. When an annulment is granted, a Church tribunal (a Catholic Church court), declares that the marriage was actually invalid according to Church Law. The marriage lacked at least one of the following essential elements required for a binding union.

The Essential Elements are:

  1. The spouses are free to marry
  2. They are capable of giving their consent to marry
  3. They freely exchange their consent
  4. In consenting to marry, they have the intention to marry for life, to be faithful to one another and be open to children
  5. They intend the good of each other
  6. Their consent is given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister

Frequently Asked Questions

I have heard the term “annulment” but I do not really know what it means. Help please!

For Your Marriage, a resource from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), published a great article on annulments. It will give an overview of what one needs to know. What is an annulment? Why does the Church require a divorced Catholic to obtain an annulment before remarrying in the Church? What does the tribunal process involve, etc.?

Contact a priest or deacon at a local parish. The priest or deacon will eventually refer you to the Diocesan Tribunal.

Congratulations, please see our Marriage Formation page to learn more about the next steps in the journey of your love.

Book Resources

Mending the Heart: A Catholic Annulment Companion

View Book

Marriage Annulments Under Pope Francis

Marriage Annulments Under Pope Francis

View Book

Contact Information

Staff

Send Us A Message

Stay Connected

Stay Informed

Follow the news about our Catholic community,
in English and Spanish.

The Southern Cross

Our Life is Mission

Nuestra Vida es Misión

Follow Us

Contact us
Copyright © 2024.

Catholic Diocese of San Diego

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.

About the Coat of Arms

Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.

About the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.

Topics