News
Latest News
Archdiocesan Catholic Appeal – Because we are grateful for all the assistance Natural Family Planning receives each year from the ACA, we would like to ask you to make a donation to the ACA. You may make your donation by visiting their website.
For Engaged Couples – Congratulations! If you need to schedule an appointment for an Introductory Session you can find a listing of locations and dates on the "Calendar" page or by clicking here. It is suggested that you schedule this appointment six months before your wedding date.
Espanol – Para ensenanza de a planificacion natural de la familia, en espanol, favor de contactar a Hermana Janina srjanina@yahoo.com - Natural Family Planning instruction is available in Spanish. For those interested, please contact Sister Janina Zilvinkis at srjanina@yahoo.com
Infertility Support Group – A monthly discussion group is facilitated at St. John's Mercy Medical Center, Department of Fertility Care Services, 11700 Studt Road, Suite C. This group has been formed to provide an opportunity to meet with others experiencing infertility to share insights, feelings and experiences. The next scheduled date is March 10, 2010 at the above address from 4:30-6:00 P.M. Also, quarterly seminars are scheduled on topics specific to the group. For more information, please call (314) 991-0327.
Members of our Infertility Support Group with their children!
In March of this year, the Office of Natural Family Planning hosted members of our Infertility Support Group who have either successfully adopted or achieved pregnancy. Praise the Lord!
Mother/Daughter Teas and Father/Son: Boys into Men programs
The programs, developed by the Department of Fertility Care Services, are presented to girls and their mothers or female guardians and boys and their fathers or male guardinas by registered nurses, doctors and a panel including teens. They emphasize respect, understanding, and appreciation of sexuality while encouraging parent/child communication.
The Teas are held yearly - in Spring and Fall -for 10-12 year olds and in the Spring for 13-17 year olds.
The Boys into Men programs are also held twice a year for 11-12 year olds and in the Spring for 13-17 year olds.
All are located at the Von Gontard Conference Center at St. John's Mercy Medical Center, 615 South New Ballas Road.
The cost, which includes a light meal is $35.00 per family. Scholarships are available.
For registration information or flyers, please call 314.991.0327 - Fall 2009 dates:
Mother Daughter Tea - October 11, 2009
Father Son: Boys into Men - October 18, 2009
What others say about NFP!
My husband and I had been married 14 years when we made the decision to practice natural family planning (NFP). Prior to then we had been contracepting. When we were preparing for marriage in 1979, we attended Pre-Cana classes where there was some mention of NFP, however, I don't recall any emphasis placed on the Church's teaching regarding contraception. What I do recall is our "without any doubt" decision to contracept.
Five years ago, God personally called me to stop. He did this in the form of my conscience. I became aware of the link between contracepton and abortion. There's a very short distance between rationalizing contraception and rationalizing abortion. I began to wonder (fear) what I may be capable of rationalizing next. Of course we were afraid to use NFP. Placing that much faith and trust in God was new territory for us. This decision marked the beginning of a pattern of turning our lives over to God. We are on the road to complete submission, which is the ultimate goal of every human being.
STEVE AND PAT NOTESTINE
MARRIED 20 YEARS
CHRIST PRINCE OF PEACE
Neither of us really thought too much about contraception when we were planning our marriage. We were aware that the Church frowned on condoms and the pill, but more importantly, we were not comfortable using chemicals, and turned off by interruptiong our lovemaking for any sort of barrier. We wanted children and knew a little about NFP, so we trusted God and had our first child just under a year into our marriage. A feeling that we needed to know how to space our children prompted us to take a course on NFP. Taking that class not only helped us to space our children as we wanted to, but also strengthened our marriage.
NFP takes the selfishness out of lovemaking. It gives us a basis to communicate with each other. It helps us spiritually because we are keeping God in our family planning. It helps us to be open to having children and to realize the importance of our job as parents. If you allow God to help you determine your family, He will make sure it is exactly the right size.
RON AND DARIA WINKER
MARRIED 17 YEARS
ST. KEVIN'S PARISH, ST. ANN