Sunday, July 21 kicked off National Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week 2019 in the Diocese of Trenton and in dioceses across the United States.
Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is a national educational campaign developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Each year, individual dioceses offer a variety of educational opportunities to focus attention on Natural Family Planning methods and Church teachings which support their use in marriage.
Peg Hensler, diocesan associate director of Marriage Ministry and NFP, reflects on the importance of NFP during this national week of awareness:
“NFP enables couples to live a moral life…It gives couples every opportunity to make the right choice and live by Church teaching. It really is a perfect time for the Church, with so many medical advances, to meet the needs of couples who are looking for non-side-effect contraceptive methods – ones that are non-steroidal, non-hormonal.”
The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the
papal encyclical Humanae Vitae(July 25), which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The USCCB has provided an abundance of information and resources regarding NFP, which you can find
by clicking here.