[mj72]

My husband is a baptized Catholic and I was baptized in the Baptist church. We were recently married in our local registry office 3 weeks ago and my husband wants us to renew our vows in the Catholic Church. Can we do this? I was married before, again in the registry office, and divorced a few months back. Do I have to get an annulment before we can say our vows in church?

[startingover]

Congratulations on finding new love. It takes courage to trust someone with your heart again. Yes, you will need to apply for an annulment before you and your husband can ask for the Church's blessing on your current marriage. It will not be a vow renewal but rather something called a convalidation ceremony in which you speak your wedding vows before a priest. Usually this is a small ceremony after a mass.

Please make an appointment to speak with a priest or lay minister who is trained in the annulment process. This person can walk you through the entire program and help keep you up to date on how your annulment is progressing. The entire process can take several months or several years, depending on circumstances surrounding your previous marriage.

Although the process can be long and soul-searching, if you approach the annulment with an honest attitude you may find it extremely helpful in revealing what went wrong with your prior marriage and how you can avoid making the same mistakes in your current relationship.

May God bless and guide you.