Office of the Tribunal & Canonical Services 

Mrs. Cecilia Brennan, J.C.L.
Director of the Tribunal 
Canonical Consultant


 Ms. Maria Gonzalez
Marriage Case Manager
 
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 350, Monterey, CA 93942-0350

           Phone: (831) 373-1833        Fax: (831) 373-6761 
Office Location: 580 Fremont St., Monterey, CA 93940
   
Due to our small staff, please call ahead  to ensure
we are available if you wish to visit the office. 

The Office of the Tribunal and Canonical Services assists the Bishop in his judicial role through the application of the internal legal system of the Catholic Church which includes the Code of Canon Law, the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Liturgical Law, Scripture and Magisterial teaching.

Our mission is to determine the truth and to provide justice for all those who approach the Church’s court system. Determinations include assessing the validity of marriages that have broken down, requests for dispensations and permissions, approval of prenuptial packets, addressing temporal goods and penal matters as well as clarifying the status of persons in the Church.  The office provides canonical expertise to the Bishop, parish and diocesan staff, as well as the faithful of the Diocese of Monterey.

We are ministers of truth, justice and mercy.

This year's deadline to submit prenuptial packets for 2023 weddings outside the country is November 3, 2023. 
Packets received after this date risk not being approved or received in time by the receiving Diocese. 
Prenuptial packets for weddings in 2024 are to be received at least 6 weeks in advance to ensure timely processing.