What is Natural Family Planning?

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an educational program, based on scientific research that helps a couple plan their family. Couples are taught to observe simple natural signs and symptoms to become aware of their fertile and infertile periods. Once a couple learns about their fertility, NFP is used to achieve or avoid pregnancies without drugs, devices, or surgical procedures. NFP builds communication between couples and promotes the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life.

 

NaPro Technology

NaProTECHNOLOGY— A Major Breakthrough In Monitoring and Maintaining a Woman's Reproductive and Gynecological Health

(taken from Pope Paul VI Institute's website - www.naprotechnology.com)

NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology) is a new women's health science that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and gynecological health. It provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate completely with the reproductive system.

Thirty years of scientific research in the study of the normal and abnormal states of the menstrual and fertility cycles have unraveled their mysteries.

For more information check out their website: www.naprotechnology.com

 

Promoting Humanae Vitae and NFP

12 Things Your Parish Can Do

Educate Yourself

1. Several groups offer education for priests on Humanae Vitae and Natural Family Planning. The Couple to Couple League (CCL) and a group called "God's Plan for Life" are just two. The latter also promote "Culture of Life" weekends that combine preaching from the pulpit with extensive lay involvement in NFP promotion with the help of volunteers and CCL teachers. Other groups also occasionally hold conferences on the topic. A terrific set of tapes is, "NFP Talks for Clergy".

2. Another great tape is "NFP: A Preachable Message" featuring priests and bishops who promote NFP.

3. Christopher West's tapes "A Crash Course on the Theology of the Body (Naked Without Shame 2nd Edition)" are an excellent treatment of Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body.

4. You may be also be interested the series of tapes "Humanae Vitae and Veritatis Splendor".

Plant Seeds

5. Certainly, homilies on the nature of the Church itself, as the Bride of Christ, as a divinely instituted entity that is guided by the Holy Spirit, should help Catholics become more receptive to Church teachings.

6. Include a flyer in the parish bulletin about the benefits of Natural Family Planning with the address and phone number of local teachers (there are many good NFP groups represented on the Internet who have great materials). Follow up with inserts on Humanae Vitae, information on the abortifacient nature of many contraceptives, sterilization, and in vitro fertilization. (Again, get surfing on the Internet - or have a zealous parishioner help you out!)

7. Consider having a day long mission done by Father Dan McCaffrey. He brings in a team - a doctor, a couple, and himself to explain the benefits of NFP. He will often preach at the Masses that weekend as well. He sometimes gets standing ovations! To request this click here.

Identify Couples Using NFP

8. After you do 5 and 6 above, couples will identify themselves to you as practitioners of NFP. Get to know them; refer couples that have questions about NFP to them.

9. Ask one of these couples to arrange to have an introductory session for NFP at the parish. Precede this with several Sundays of endorsements from the pulpit. Invite and attractive articulate couple to say a few words about the benefits of NFP after the masses (shorten your own homily a bit!)

Make Marriage Preparation A Top Priority

10. Priests report that 85% or more of those coming to them for marriage preparation are already having sex and about 50% are cohabiting. Many dioceses and the US bishops have put together good statements about cohabitation and marriage preparation. These materials will help you learn what kind of questions to ask and what kinds of guidance to give cohabiting couples. Click here to see what the USCCB says.

11. Give the couple a list of books about marriage that will help them understand the Catholic Understanding of Marriage. John Kippley's, Marriage is for Keeps and Christopher West's, Good News about Sex and Marriage are particularly good.

12. Offer to hear confession for all Catholics attending the wedding rehearsal. Explain that they would give the marrying couple a great gift on their wedding day if they offer their Mass and communion in a well-prepared state.

Parallel Ventures

1. Find a lady in the parish to spearhead a mothers-with-young-children group. Let them use the parish hall one morning a week for a gathering. They will likely want to get some childcare and bring refreshments. They will decide how to spend their time, but the networking they do and the encouragement they do for each other will be invaluable. Types of activities:

* Pray the rosary for their families

* Have a speaker on such topics as discipline; family activities; family prayer; finding and dealing with babysitters; meal preparation; time management; etc

* Slowly read and discuss a church document together

2. Find a professor, teacher, or good presenter in the parish to hold a discussion group on Church documents. The group could meet after Saturday morning Mass or early Sunday afternoon, once or twice a month. They need read only a very small portion of the document ahead of time or they can just read aloud a small portion of the document and discuss it. There are many fine documents on the family.

3. Find someone who can help parents provide their children with sex education. Have this individual do a presentation or series of presentations for the parents on how to educate their children about sexuality.

4. Have someone in the parish do a summary of various Church documents for insertion in the bulletin.

5. Have a Family Night periodically at the parish. Show a good family movie and provide popcorn and snacks.

 

The USCCB encourages celebrating NFP Awareness in your parish.

National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, held in July, is another opportunity to promote NFP in the parish. Family Life Education supplies every parish with a poster, suggested intercessions for the Prayers of the Faithful, homily ideas, an article about NFP and brochures with information about our own NFP programs.

 

Ministry Resources

Homilies from Called to Give Life - To see sixteen homilies dealing with morality for married couples and with contraception in particular click here.

 

General Information on NFP