BRIDGEPORT – To heighten awareness of Natural Family Planning
(NFP), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated
July 24-30 as “Natural Family Planning Awareness Week”
in dioceses throughout the country. Posters are starting to appear
in parishes with this year’s slogan, “Making Good Marriages Great.”
The July dates
highlight the anniversary of the landmark encyclical Humanae
Vitae (July 25), as well as the feast of Saints Joachim
and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Virgin Mary who
are symbols of love, marriage, faithfulness, and fruitfulness.
Activities
Planned
Here in the Diocese of Bridgeport, an array of activities are
planned throughout the month of July. A novena Mass was celebrated
on July 15 at Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish in Brookfield.
Father Peter Towsley was the celebrant and homilist.
“We petitioned
the intercession of Saints Anne and Joachim for the intention
that all people, married, single, and celibate, may understand
more fully their sublime vocations to self-giving love and shepherd
new life with God through their unique gifts,” says Linda Gaboardi
of Saint Joseph Parish in Danbury, a certified NFP instructor
with her husband, Kevin.
Singles, couples,
priests, religious and families are invited to attend a potluck
barbecue at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown on Sunday,
July 24, from 2-5 p.m., featuring guest speaker Father Robert
Boyd.
“If couples
learn the truth about God’s plan for marriage, they will be happier
now and in heaven,” says Father Boyd of Saint Joseph Parish in
Danbury. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction will
conclude the day’s activities. “This gathering is an opportunity
to learn about and support those involved in the Natural Family
Planning Ministry in our diocese in a relaxed atmosphere of fellowship,
prayer, food, and family fun,” says Gaboardi.
In addition,
beginning Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at Saint Rose of Lima,
a new NFP class series will be offered, taught by Certified Teaching
Couple Al and Adrienne Keogler.
Effective
When used correctly, NFP is 99 percent effective in helping couples
to postpone pregnancy, and 76% effective in achieving pregnancy
in the first cycle of use. Moreover, NFP is completely in accord
with Church teaching on openness to life and “recourse to the
natural regulation of fertility.”
As an added
bonus, its proponents boast that couples who practice NFP have
a divorce rate of less than five percent.
Couples receive
instruction from professionally trained certified teaching couples
(who volunteer their time) or national NFP providers. They work
in conjunction with the diocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office
in the Catholic Center, and are certified by the Couple to Couple
League International (www.ccli.org),
Billings Ovulation Method Association, (www.boma-usa.org),
or the Pope Paul VI Institute (http://creightonmodel.com),
organizations devoted to teaching NFP to married and engaged couples.
Diocesan
Instructors
Presently there are six certified married couples in the Diocese
of Bridgeport who offer NFP classes in one of several approved
methods, as well as Sister Mary Jean Tague, B.S.N., M.S. Four
more couples are in training to be certified, and future plans
call for NFP classes in other languages like Spanish.
Awareness
of NFP is growing in the Diocese of Bridgeport, with more and
more married couples seeking instruction and information, notes
Mary Wolpiuk of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull, a
certified NFP instructor with her husband, Stan. Recent lectures
and seminars on Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” addresses
on love, marriage, relationships, and sexuality have sparked new
interest in NFP classes.
Referrals
“Most of our clients are referred to us by priests, or learn about
Natural Family Planning through their church bulletins, the website,
or the Fairfield County Catholic,” Wolpiuk says. About
half are engaged couples, who participate as part of their pre-Cana
marriage preparation. The others are a mix of newly married and
older couples seeking to deepen their faith, nurture their family,
and enrich their marriage.
“Feedback
has been great,” Wolpiuk reports. “People are just amazed at how
their bodies work. Men are as interested and as motivated in Natural
Family Planning as women are.”
She hopes
that this summer’s NFP Awareness Week will break down the apparent
resistance some couples have to talking about the subject.
Not Awkward
“A lot more could be done, especially at the parish level,” Wolpiuk
concludes. “Some people think talking about NFP is awkward or
difficult. It’s not. It’s a beautiful gift, and we need to spread
the message even wider. The rewards are great in helping couples
achieve pregnancy and making their marriages and families even
stronger.”
(For more
information on Natural Family Planning, or to or to volunteer
to assist the ministry, visit the Fairfield County Couple to Couple
League website: http://fairfieldcounty.
ccli.org, e-mail nfp4life@snet.net,
or call the diocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office: 372-4301,
ext. 341. The USCCB website is another good resource: www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp.)
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