Radical Sanation No-Go Before Easter Vigil, now what?

[DakiniArtist]

Good morning,

We’re in a small town. Long story short, been trying to convert for four years. Our deacon handles all the annulment, convalidation, and radical sanation paperwork that goes to the diocese. Over the last four years He has lost paperwork, given me outdated forms, etc. He’s laughed it off, and given excuses and apologies. I’m quick to give benefit of the doubt. (I’m a flaky gal myself and my home office looks like a bomb went off in it!)

Well, we went in for our radical sanation the first week of January. I found out two days ago from our RCIA core team that he hasn’t filed the sanation paperwork with our diocese in another county. Father says the fellow who handles that for the bishop is in the office once a week and the wait is a minimum of THREE WEEKS. Easter vigil is approaching. The deacon is also on vacation until for another week and I was told “the only person here who can send the paperwork.” I burst into tears.

My understanding from the core team is that I make a reconciliation immediately before Easter Vigil, confess marital relations with hubby, then live with him as brother and sister until the sanation. However, when I ordered yet another baptismal certificate from my husband’s home parish in another state (as mysteriously our church here “lost” his, yet again), the person on the phone assured me that a sanation MUST BE in place before they allow folks to convert at Easter Vigil. This made my blood run cold. Yes, I burst into tears once again.

What do you make of this? And is this true? I feel like I just need to ask outside our diocese right now.

God bless you and thanks.

Catherine

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

It is correct that the marriage must be validated before someone can be received into the Church. However, this does not necessarily have to happen at the Easter Vigil. You could be received into the Church at any time and receive confirmation along with a regular confirmation class sometime during the year:
USCCB:

The Candidates may be received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil or at another Sunday during the year depending on pastoral circumstances and readiness of the Candidate.