03 May

Photo Credit: (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz) - Dr. Anne Nolte, right, a family physician with the National Gianna Center for Women's Health and Fertility in New York, is pictured with a patient in 2009. The center provides gynecological care, prenatal care, infertility services and natural family planning education.

‘Supporting and building healthy relationships in your parish community’

Cori Urban

Vermont

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May 3, 2022

“Supporting and building healthy relationships in your parish community,” a webinar for directors of religious education, parish catechetical leaders, youth ministers, catechists, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults instructors and anyone interested in learning about the teachings of the Church in regard to Theology of the Body, fertility and sexuality, will be offered May 9 at 1:45 and 7 p.m.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet local Natural Family Planning educators and practitioners in the Diocese of Burlington.

“We have been blessed to have women in Vermont discern the vocation of teaching NFP using one of the suggested methods provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,” said Terri McCormack, coordinator of marriage and family life for the Diocese.

“Over the past few years, the Diocese has been working intentionally to foster more NFP teachers, especially under Terri McCormack’s leadership,” said Deacon Phil Lawson, executive director of pastoral ministries for the Diocese. “It is very encouraging to see some of these things coming to fruition.”

Jennifer Ploof, temporary assistant director of catechesis for the Diocese and parish catechetical leader at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary-St. Louis Parish in Swanton and Highgate Springs, will be leading the webinar with McCormack and other NFP educators. She explained that instructors are responsible for sharing their training and knowledge of Natural Family Planning, “which allows a shared responsibility between a husband and wife to better understand their fertility.”

The instructors are licensed and keep current in their respective method of fertility care. “All instructors trained in NFP promote the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life,” she added.

She listed the benefits of Natural Family Planning:

NFP is an effective method for avoiding or achieving pregnancy.

There are no harmful drugs or devices involved.

NFP simply and naturally puts a woman in touch with her own fertility by teaching her to recognize and understand the physical changes in her body.

NFP fosters commitment in couples to work together in meeting their family goals.

NFP is approved by the Catholic Church.

NFP is easy to learn and apply.

NFP’s effectiveness is proven by scientific and medical research.

Practicing NFP includes instruction in observing three primary fertility signs.

NFP can be used by all women, whatever the stage of their reproductive life.

NFP involves no additional expenses after initial instruction.

NFP reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life.