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- Are there eligibility requirements?
- How are fellows supported financially?
- Are there other ways Fellows are supported?
- What are the academic prerequisites?
- What are the academic expectations?
- What is a hybrid program?
- What are the work expectations?
- How long is the fellowship committment?
- Does the fellowship continue post-grad?
- How do I apply?
- How are fellows selected?
- What is initial timeline after selection?
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Yes. The Fellowship is designed to financially support and develop lay ecclesial leaders anticipating long-term, fruitful service to the Catholic Church in the United States.
Therefore, to be eligible to receive initial and ongoing scholarship funding, as well as participation in the Fellowship, each SRF Fellow must be:- a practicing, lay Catholic in good standing
- a US Citizen or permanent resident (green card holder)
- 45 years old or younger at the time of acceptance to the Fellowship
- Recommended by a Catholic pastor
- academically qualified, demonstrated by academic prerequisites
- Maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA while enrolled at CUA
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In partnership with CUA and through the generosity of donors, the Fellowship covers the tuition and fees for fellows, as well as housing and travel expenses related to the summer in-person sessions at CUA.
Fellows also receive a stipend for the duration of their participation in the Fellowship.
Funding is contingent upon eligibility requirements.
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Yes! Fellows benefit from mentorship by the professional staff of the Metropolitan Tribunal for the duration of their studies and participation in the Fellowship.
Also, the Archdiocese of Portland is committed to promoting the spiritual well-being of SRF fellows through frequent prayer, daily Mass, the sacrament of confession, and other opportunities for spiritual and social growth.
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Prospective fellows must meet the School of Canon Law's
Academic Prerequisites
In addition, they must observe the requirements and process of CUA's Graduate Admissions.
For more information, click here
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Fellows commit to the 4-year summer program at the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America (CUA). This hybrid program leads to a licentiate in canon law (J.C.L.) and equips the fellow for professional service in the Church as a canon lawyer.
For more information, click Here
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The CUA Summer Program involves online courses in the fall and spring semesters and in-person coursework during 4 summers at CUA's campus in Washington, DC.
Online courses will be taken while residing in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, where SRF fellows serve part-time in the Portland Metropolitan Tribunal.
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During their studies in CUA's JCL summer program, fellows will serve part-time, in person, at the Portland Metropolitan Tribunal as notaries and then auditors.
A notary is an ecclesiastical office which is essential to the documentary work of the Church, especially in judicial processes. Notaries are responsible for drafting and authenticating official documents, as well as managing cases and interactions with interested parties.
An auditor is an ecclesiastical office in the Church's judicial processes responsible for taking testimony through depositions. The auditor works under the direction of a judge in collecting information necessary to adjudicate the central matter under investigation.
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Fellows serve in the Portland Metropolitan Tribunal while concurrently studying canon law through CUA.
Once a fellow receives the JCL, he or she is under no obligation to seek employment in the Archdiocese of Portland. It is our expectation that wherever a fellow eventually serves as a canon lawyer, the Church will be strengthened for the good of the faithful.
Saint Raymond fellows will take with them their hands-on experience in the best practices in Tribunal ministry, matched by the excellent academics of CUA's School of Canon Law.
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Upon receiving the JCL from CUA, fellows may be offered full-time employment -- subject to availability and the discretion of the Archdiocese -- as canon lawyers, serving the Tribunal as advocates or defenders of the bond.
Advocates represent clients in ecclesiastical processes, such as marriage nullity cases, and are bound to promote their interest and right of defense, give sound advice, and contribute toward the truth and justice of the process.
Defenders of the bond represent the Church's interest to safeguard and protect the bond of marriage. This crucial office exists to ensure that a declaration of nullity is only granted when there is moral certainty that a given marriage was invalid.
Other opportunities for service in the Archdiocese of Portland may be available as well.
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Those who are interested and meet the eligibility requirements should contact us. They are invited to submit a CV, cover letter, and pastor's recommendation to [email protected].
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Applications are reviewed regularly by the Fellowship director, and top candidates will be invited to interview.
Selection of fellows is at the discretion of the Fellowship director in view of the eligibility requirements, the candidate's CV, the pastor's recommendation, the needs of the Metropolitan Tribunal and the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, as well as the existing cohort of fellows.
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Selected fellows will begin by serving first for one semester in the Portland Metropolitan Tribunal as a notary or assistant notary.
At the end of this initial, probationary period and provided the experience was mutually favorable, the fellow will be invited to apply for admission to CUA with the recommendation and sponsorship of the Fellowship.
Depending on the academic calendar, the decision of CUA graduate admissions, and at the discretion of the School of Canon Law, the fellow admitted to CUA will either enroll in online courses or attend in-person during the first semester of enrollment.
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