Frequently Asked Questions

It is a collaborative effort by non una cum sedevacantist married couples to help their friends and children find holy Catholic spouses.

The SSJAI is a long name; it is easier to share and remember a simple nickname like Sede Match. That said, the apostolate remains under the patronage and official title of the Saints Joachim and Anne Initiative.

Yes. From its inception, the questionnaire was created in concert with two dozen clergy and more than a dozen clergy from all the major groups, including the SGG, CMRI, IMBC, RCI, and SSS who gave insight, including corrections and deletions. The panel also has recourse to a chaplain who oversees the initiative and is consulted.

No, we do not. We believe in the need for this service and our panel of matchmakers volunteer their time. It is not a business but we are happy to accept donations, 95% of which would go to the matchmaking panel while 5% would go to offset costs incurred, such as software.

No. The questionnaire is confidential; it contains very personal information and we do not want any of that information to be public. We will send an executive summary and photo to potential matches and will only forward your information to your potential match/es upon your explicit written request to do so. After connecting you to your potential match/es, you can communicate as you wish. Your questionnaire will be destroyed after 1 year of inactivity or upon request. Questionnaires can be retained in our matchmaking files past 1 year upon applicant’s request.

Panel members will remain anonymous to ensure the privacy of applicants. All applications will be kept in password protected, encrypted files which only the panelists and the chaplain will have access to.

Our panel is currently limited to fewer than 6 married couples, but that amount could increase upon demand. All of our panelists are married couples who attend Mass with different congregations. They have varying levels of experience which is a positive; the younger couples have recent experience with courting, while the older couples have experience in marriage, and of recent courtships through the prism of their children. These varying levels of experience complement each other, and were specifically chosen for this purpose.

• We begin the examination of every questionnaire with prayer, asking the intercession of Sts Joachim and Anne.
• We then read through the questionnaire, e-mailing the applicant if we require clarification.
• Once the applicant’s questionnaire is complete, the reviewing panelist creates an executive summary of the applicant. The executive summary is then circulated among fellow panelists to discern possible matches.
• In the case of a possible match, the executive summaries will be sent to both parties. After mutual review by the applicants and with their explicit permission, secure access to photos will be provided. If, and only if, both parties wish to move forward, we will send a connecting e-mail to both parties with all relevant contact information. After the connecting e-mail is sent, you will be temporarily removed from the pool of applicants.
• 30 days after the match is made, we will follow up with both parties by e-mail to determine if both parties wish to remain outside the matching pool. There will be a 6 month check-in; you are welcome to contact us at any time during the process, though we will be hands-off after matches are made.

We primarily are going to look at a compatibility of faith level and goals, also considering temperaments, hobbies, and all things that make good friends, which, in turn, make good marriages.

We are pro-bono because we believe strongly in the need for this service, as some of us are also parents and understand the need. However, we are incurring costs. We would gladly accept donations to our apostolate. Mass stipends for our panelists are also welcome.

While those in other groups are generally well-intentioned Catholics, we know that differences and disagreements on religion cause challenging obstacles in marriage, second only to financial difficulties. We will not assist in creating unions that have a major flaw from the very beginning. While we understand that people can grow and change, we cannot assume that and it is not to be encouraged.

There are no upper age limits as we know people are in different times of their life. However, the younger age limit will be 18 for maturity and to uncomplicate our process for legal reasons.

No, it is costly to pay for background checks, and given our pro-bono nature, will not be able to provide that service. However, there will be a request for a letter of recommendation for each applicant from a Priest.

We have a large group of Priests that we can introduce you to so that he can recommend you after a phone call or consultation. Letters of recommendation from a religious brother or sister will also be accepted.

Our panelists are passionate about the apostolate, but have no desire to be public figures. We believe our best success lies in confidentiality at every level, from top to bottom. Our chaplain, panelists, and applicants will have the highest chance of success by keeping complete confidentiality and anonymity.

Our greatest hope is a wedding photo, but we understand the desire for anonymity. Anonymous testimonials would be a great way to support us. We have no testimonials yet as we are just starting out.

We drew on experience from courting and long-term marital success to create questions that reflect successful parameters in marriage. We tested and reviewed the questionnaire with married couples who also gave us feedback. We built a big tent of input from married and unmarried laypeople and religious from every major sede congregation.

At the moment neither, but as demand grows we may consider that. This will, of course, require careful vetting as the current panelists have been specially selected and are known both to one another and to others as reliable and trustworthy.