Spreading the Gospel of Life, One Marriage, One Family at a Time
NFP Parish Rep Training Session
1:00 Registration/Introductions
1:15 NFP and the Marriage Prep Policy for the Diocese
1:30 Theology of the Body –Helping Instructors and Reps make the point of
successfully living & witnessing to NFP
 2:30
15 minute Break
2:45 NFP Parish Rep Ministry
3:00 Developing an effective Couple Witness Talk
4:00-5:00pm Work on Couple Witness/Share in Small groups
(5:00pm Mass available at St. Mary’s Basilica)
Office of Marriage and Respect Life
1998-2009: What is the difference?
2009-10 Policy
1998 Policy
1.
Some analysis of current issues,
explanation of God’s plan and Pastoral
response to crisis
2.
Parish/Diocesan programs encouraged
3.
Basic trainings for MPM’s and MPL’s
4.
Two courses required (approx. 14 hrs.)
5.
Introduction to Natural Family Planning
6.
Cost of Preparation: $140-300
(Dioc. schol. available)
7.
Six-month prep period
1.
Analysis, diagnosis, theological
understanding, pastoral response
deepened
2.
Parish/Diocesan/Online programs
encouraged
3.
More thorough training
4.
Three courses required (approx. 26 hrs)
5.
Full course in an approved method of NFP
6.
Cost of Preparation: $250-$460
(Dioc. Schol. available)
7.
Nine month prep period
8.
Appendix updating pastoral approach to
cohabitation/sexually active couples
Marriage Prep Timeline
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Month 1:A couple meets with Pastor or his delegate, parish starts
their Nuptial File.
Month 1-3 : FOCCUS inventory
Month 1-3: Married Life Skills Course (weekend or 6 evenings)-ex:
Love for Life, Engaged Encounter, Unitas or other approved
program.
Month 3-6: God’s Plan for Joy Filled Marriage (weekend)-this
will include an NFP Introduction
Month 4-7: Full NFP Course
Month 8 Reconciliation
Month 9: Final meeting with Pastor or his delegate
Fr. Charlie Goraieb
“Theology of the Body”
Periodic Abstinence: the Gift
to Married Love
Fr. Charlie Goraeib
Adults 25-34 Married
8
What happened?
 1960—advent of Pill
 1968—Promulgation (and rejection) of
Humanae Vitae
Paul VI, prophet (HV, 17)
1. Infidelity and lower Standards
2. Women as objects
3. Governmental Manipulation
4. False understanding of the Body
10
Catholics On Board
11
“Follow your Conscience”—the wolf in sheep’s clothing
Was Paul VI right?
13
Effects of Contraception
 Increase in divorce, abortion, out-of-
wedlock pregnancy, STD.
 Extra-marital sex leading to divorce.
 Physiological and psychological effects of
the pill.
 Objectification of women.
 Pornography
14
 Harm done to the spousal relationship.
 False understanding of the “control” we
have over our bodies.
 Delay marriage
 Children seen as burden
 Divorce (50%)
15
Population Control
16
Church’s repsonse?
A New Vocabulary:
From the Natural Law
to
The Personalistic Norm
THEOLOGY OF THE BODY
17
The Law of the Gift:
The
“disinterested”
gift of self to
another for the
purpose of
Union and
Communion.
18
Sacrament of Marriage
Definition of Sacrament: Visible sign
which depicts an invisible reality
that imparts God’s grace
19
The Vows
Free
Total
Fruitful
Faithful
20
We hear three Main
Objections to using NFP
1. It doesn’t work
2. Hard to learn
3. Very difficult to practice
Answers
1. 95%-99.6% effective
2. Designed for simplicity
3. You’re right in terms of
abstinence for many couples
So Why Bother?
No side effects
Understand each other better
Better Communication
New ways of showing
affection
Fosters chastity
The Paschal Mystery “Home Kit”
Allows for practice of
Responsible Parenthood
Protects the Nature of Sexual
love by ensuring the Gift
Helps you stay married
Rate of Divorce
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Contracepting
NFP
25
Be Aware:
Can mask a “contraceptive or
selfish mentality” in some
Periodic Abstinence can be a special
burden on the woman
Know Your Audience
 Sex is more than just sex
 Don’t want to be used
 God has a plan
27
Further Questions to Discuss
Is NFP “Catholic Contraception”?
Contraception and Homosexuality?
NFP--unique challenges for men and
women?
28
Promoting NFP Within the Parish
Achieving a goal expressed by
Bishop Thomas Olmsted:
To establish parish NFP liaison couples to assist
pastors in promoting NFP and to be NFP point
persons for the laity.
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
“I hope you will be able to respond generously to this
call for your invaluable service. If so, I know you
will enrich your own marriage as well as help to
enrich the marriages of those to whom you are
called to minister.”
NFP Full Series Requirement
 USCCB-DDP/NFP set a minimal standard of four
meetings with each couple. We require four in
addition to the introduction to NFP.
 God’s Plan for Joy Filled Marriage now has the NFP
Introduction embedded into it, in the last session.
 God’s Plan+ three classes + one-month follow-up.
This takes about three months to complete.
 Class Series cost:$100 per couple, $130 for on-line.
 Couple to Couple League classes: $135
 Creighton Model: $150
2011 Come & See:
NFP Intro for Married Couples
 2 hour Power Point Presentation covering:






Theology of the Body
Male/Female Anatomy & Scientific Basis of NFP
Effectiveness Rates
Contraceptive Side Effects/Methods of Action
Couple Witness about Benefits of NFP/Periodic
Abstinence
Cost: $15 per couple/pkt of information. Scheduled
about once a month in some part of the valley.
NFP Parish Rep Ministry
“Job Description”
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring
good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings…”
Isaiah 52:7
Assist pastors in promotion of NFP in their parish
Offer to have your contact information at the
reception desk and with the Marriage Prep
coordinator for questions couples may have.
Read about NFP & Become familiar with the NFP
Intro Packet and website.
NFP Parish Rep Ministry “Job Description”
Make sure announcements for classes appear in your parish
bulletins.
Ask to have NFP posters & schedules placed in the vestibule
or brochure rack of your Church.
If your parish hosts NFP classes, greet the NFP teaching
couple & help make sure room is set up for them
Offer to share your witness at various meetings in your
parish:
 RCIA classes, Marriage Prep, Bible Studies, Women’s &
Men’s Fellowship Groups, Baptism Classes, Ministry
Fairs, after Mass-especially during National NFP Week
at end of July ( can share new video!)
Parish Rep Report Form
 Please keep track of all NFP parish work that you do
for the year on the Report Form.
 At the end of the year please send the form to the
Office of NFP, Diocese of Phoenix. Or send an email.
 Statistics will be reported to the Bishop and to the
USCCB-DDP/NFP
Office of NFP Diocese of Phoenix
NFP Methods Coordinated by Office of NFP:
Northwest Family Services Sympto-Thermal Method
www.nwfs.org (NWFS)
Family of the Americas Ovulation Method (FAF)
www.familyplanning.net
BOMA-Billings Ovulation Method Association
(BOMA)
www.boma-usa.org
Creighton ModelAvailable throughout the Diocese in over 30 parishes,
in both English and Spanish and Vietnamese
NFP Only Healthcare Professionals
NaProTechnology- Deirdre Wilson, D.O. –Dr. Clint
Leonard, Ob/Gyn, Napro Technology
Dr. Mike Czerkes, Ob/Gyn, Napro Technology
Dr. James Statt, Ob/Gyn- Aid to Women Center
Dr. William Chavira, Ob/Gyn
Dr. Lori Carillo, Ob/Gyn
Lisa Clouse McDaniel, PA, Napro Technology
Dr. John Oertle, NMD
Registration Procedures
Couples should be directed to our websites:
www.phxnfp.org
Marriage Prep site:
www.ourcovenantoflovephx.org
Couples can pay on line by credit card, or by mailing a
check or money order. Cash is not accepted.
May call for clarification or questions: 602-354-2122
NFP Recruits
Are Needed!
Couples who:
Have experienced
the blessing of
periodic abstinence
in their own
marriages by living
NFP.
NFP Couple Parish Reps
Would like to grace
their marriage with
shared lay service.
NFP Instructors
NFP Instructor Recruitment
 Office of NFP has a trainer for: NWFS S-T
method(English) and for FAF Ovulation
Method(Spanish).
 Special need for bilingual Sympto-Thermal
instructors.
 CCL -on-line teacher training ( English only).
Getting Started as NFP Parish Rep Couples:
 Your pastor will be receiving a letter from the Office of
NFP with your name and contact information.
 Please call your pastor, introduce yourselves and set up a
meeting to offer specific services in the parish. He will be
happy to have this position filled! ( On the parish
checklists now!) Please don’t say: “What do you want us
to do?”
 Bring a gift: “Married Love and the Gift of Life,” and
know that you are beautiful to him and to Bishop
Olmsted, because you bring Good News!!
Jenelle and Mark Van Brunt
Sharing your story by
Writing your NFP Couple Witness
Couple WitnessTake 20 minutes to reflect, write notes, and then come
together to share an outline containing:
 Conversion to using NFP
 Challenges while using NFP
 Fruit since making the change to NFP
Share with group now, develop more fully at home.
Tips for Preparing Your Couple Witness
 Pray for God’s inspiration.
 Read examples of witness talks ( on USCCB site).
 Both Husband and Wife share equally in time.
 Write in down. Get feedback.
 Practice it! Try not to read it when presenting.
 Use humor, pathos, regrets, joy. Make it very
personal.
Questions?
Thank you so very much!