Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Three longtime staff members of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Orlando have retired, marking the end of a significant period for one of the country’s busiest church tribunals. Father J. Fernando Gil, JCD, who served as judicial vicar, Father Joseph Bellerive, adjutant judicial vicar, and Diana Anderson, tribunal manager, have all stepped down after decades of service.

Father Gil retired after nearly 40 years with the Diocese of Orlando, during which he held roles including pastor, director of Hispanic Ministry, director of Farmworker Ministry, co-director of vocations, episcopal delegate, tribunal advocate, Defender of the Bond, collegiate tribunal judge, and judicial vicar. He brought to his work experience as a civil lawyer and advanced degrees in law and criminology before entering the seminary. Bishop Thomas Grady and Sister Lucy Vazquez encouraged him to study canon law to prepare for future service on the diocesan tribunal. “So, I ended up completing both a licentiate and a doctoral degree in canon law,” he said.

With approval from then-Bishop Thomas Wenski, Father Gil also earned a doctoral degree in biblical studies and later studied Hebrew, Aramaic, and Jewish education to enhance his preaching and teaching. Reflecting on his time at the tribunal, Father Gil said, “Working at the Tribunal all these years has been a great joy and honor. A devotion to Jesus, the just judge, was always in my heart and mind before a case decision was made.” He recalled advice from a professor: “Fernando, do not forget the most complex cases must be elucidated and resolved on your knees, at the feet of the Blessed Sacrament.”

Diana Anderson noted Father Gil’s ability to explain complex cases clearly. “He explained things in a logical manner, often simplifying the most complicated cases making them easier to comprehend,” she said.

Father Vigny Joseph Bellerive, JCD, retired after more than 20 years serving as pastor, tribunal advocate, collegiate tribunal judge, and adjutant judicial vicar. He previously served at Notre Dame Cathedral in France and holds advanced degrees in medical studies, theology, and canon law from Canadian and French universities. Father Gil described him as “not only an excellent canonist with an incredible capacity for legal discernment and an extraordinary ability to bring solution to challenging and complex matrimonial and penal cases, but also a versatile and accomplished musician, an opera singer with a vocal range between countertenor and baritone, a dedicated researcher in the areas of Church history, canon law and liturgy, a prolific writer and a polyglot, among many other talents that he has humbly and wisely used for God’s glory.”

Anderson called Father Bellerive a “problem-solver,” often assigned “the most difficult cases” because of his approach to respondents.

Anderson will retire in early November after more than 37 years with the diocese. She previously worked in religious education at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Altamonte Springs and has spent the last 18 years as tribunal ecclesiastical notary and manager. She said her favorite part of tribunal work is seeing positive outcomes: “All of these people are looking to come back into communion with the Church. It’s wonderful when their sacramental life is restored.”

Father Gil praised Anderson as “a good conductor, so to speak, who would set the daily wheels of a canonical judicial system in motion.” Father Bellerive added: “She is one of the most amazing, efficient, welcoming and humble members that the Tribunal of the Orlando Diocese has ever had. Throughout the last 20 years that I spent working with her, she has been very supportive and professional, not only to the judges, but also to the staff, the advocates and to all who seek answers to the nullity of their marriages. She will be missed. Many blessings to her for her dedication.”

Father John C. Giel, vicar general and chancellor of canonical affairs, said Anderson and Father Gil “were a terrific pair in keeping the extensive work going in our tribunal.” Of Father Bellerive he said: “He was a great judge who did his work in timely fashioned and helped numerous people searching to come home to the Church.”

Over the past decade, the Tribunal has led the national ecclesiastical judicial system in marriage annulment petitions. It has also handled many complex penal cases delegated by church authorities in Rome as well as other dioceses. The Tribunal has twice investigated alleged miraculous events related to candidates for sainthood.

“Our Tribunal is part of a collaborative and team effort carried out by the judicial vicars, advocates, judges, defenders of the bond, court experts, and ecclesiastical notaries, a true diocesan family,” Father Gil said. “All of them possess a profound faith in the Lord Jesus, great listening skills and a tremendous pastoral zeal, always keeping in mind that the supreme law of Mother Church is the salvation of souls.”

Despite their retirements, Fathers Gil and Bellerive will continue as judges due to ongoing demand.

The Diocese of Orlando was established in 1968. It includes 79 parishes, 11 missions, two basilicas, and 43 Catholic schools across nine counties. The diocese is currently led by Bishop James Noonan.