MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Sister Nadine Meyer
Procurator/Advocate, Marriage Tribunal
Rockford Diocese, Rockford, Illinois

Bio Box
Birthplace: Burlington, Iowa
Your idea of a perfect day would be…an unexpected snow day when the community can spend leisure time just being together
Living person you most admire: Sister Joan Chittister
Last book you read: The Force of Character by James Hillman
Best personality trait: As my high school yearbook said of me, “Happiness was born a twin.”

Q. How did you get started in your ministry?

A. In my ministry as a pastoral associate, I worked with people in R.C.I.A., in a separated/divorced group and also with inactive Catholics. For many, being or desiring to be remarried prevented them from fully participating in the sacramental life of the Church. I became interested in helping them obtain a declaration that their previous marriage was invalid according to the Church. I studied Canon Law and Tribunal practices at Catholic University of America.

Q. What does your role as procurator/advocate for the Marriage Tribunal involve?

A. The majority of my work is personally interviewing Petitioners (those seeking a degree of invalidity) and then writing up an evaluation and suggesting the grounds on which the case will be judged by the canon lawyers. I also interview some witnesses regarding the various cases.

Q. How do you extend the charism through your ministry?

A. Most people who have gone through a broken marriage have experienced emotional pain and the loss of their dream. As a woman of hope, I feel I can offer them compassion, encouragement, and hope as they move forward with their lives.

Q. Name one thing about your ministry people might not know.

A. The Catholic Church presumes all marriages to be valid whether they are between Catholics and non-Catholics, baptized or not.

Q. What is the greatest need in your ministry?

A. The greatest need is to educate Catholics about what constitutes a sacramental marriage and offer better marriage preparation. We also need to educate Catholics about how and why a marriage could be declared invalid.