Natural Family Planning

Welcome to Natural Family Planning Awareness in the Diocese of Trenton! Natural Family Planning (NFP) is another term for Fertility Awareness – understanding the signs and symptoms that indicate times of fertility and infertility in a woman’s cycle. Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) enable couples to plan their families 100% naturally, without drugs or devices, acting in harmony with the healthy functioning of the female reproductive system while enhancing communication between husbands and wives. To take an online class CLICK HERE.

This year the Diocese of Trenton’s NFP Awareness efforts will shed light on the unique role of men - husbands and fathers - in cooperating with God's divine plan for forming a family. At the same time we will continue to emphasize the mother-daughter connection and the special role of mothers as teachers, advisors, listeners, comforters, and helpers for their daughters as they pass from childhood to womanhood and perhaps to parenthood. Our efforts will promote the notion that husbands and wives together are "called to give life - [they are] cooperators with the love of God the creator [Catechism of the Catholic Church #2367]. Just as all girls need a mom or mother figure to guide them through the stages of development into womanhood, all boys need a dad or father figure to teach them what it means to become a man.

NFP Info for Men

One of the many beautiful aspects of Natural Family Planning is that both husband and wife take an active role in monitoring fertlity on a daily basis. Through the daily charting mechanism, husbands can be fully aware of the hormonal changes that take place throughout each monthly cycle. This enhances marital communication and understanding within the sexual relationship and promotes mutual accountability in all family planning decisions.

The practice of Natural Family Planning also prepares fathers for the important task of passing along the wisdom of their experience to their sons, and helps dads deal effectively with the many challenges of raising confident and caring sons and daughters through the difficult teen years. Dads will have a heads-up on the hormonal changes that boys and girls each experience during puberty; this knowledge will enable him to form a strong parental unit with his wife as they navigate the teen years together, and develop an on-going relationship of open communication and trust with their kids.

When it comes to Natural Family Planning Awareness, and particularly the first introduction of young women to fertility appreciation concepts, nothing is more important than the mother-daughter relationship. To prepare for adulthood, all girls need a mother figure to pass along the wisdom and universal truths of womanhood that only come from lived experience. 

NFP info for Couples

The purpose of Natural Family Planning Info for Couples is to provide a thorough introduction to the
science, technology, health benefits and spiritually enriching aspects of fertility appreciation – also
known as Natural Family Planning.

This page provides the full range of resources to build a culture of life in the parish that honors the beauty of Church teaching on responsible parenthood and fertility appreciation, and offers a host of ideas for parishes to celebrate National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week 2021 (July 25-31, 2021) in a variety of creative ways including in the Sunday Liturgy. 

Priests and deacons are on the "front line" in the Church helping the faithful understand God's plan for married love. Although no one expects clergy to become "certified NFP teachers," basic information on the science and methodology of NFP will help clergy in their pastoral efforts.

Teachers, catechists and youth ministers have a unique opportunity to impart the beauty and wisdom of Catholic teaching on important matters of family life, including God's wonderful plan for love, marriage and family. Integrating age-appropriate topics of procreation and human development in educational settings supports the hard work of Catholic parents who must often swim against the tide to raise their children in the Catholic tradition.

The purpose of Natural Family Planning Info for Medical Professionals is to connect the Catholic medical community to the tools and resources needed to promote the holistic approach to family life that incorporates spiritual, emotional, ecological and physical benefits of the use of Fertility Awareness Methods of Family Planning.

There is a great need in the Catholic community for professionally trained providers of instruction in one or more of the Fertility Awareness Methods of family planning. This page lists the various methods and the how-to’s for becoming an NFP instructor in the Diocese of Trenton.

While openness to life is one of the three essentials of Catholic marriage (along with permanence and faithfulness), many married couples are faced with infertility. This page offers a host of effective options and resources for couples seeking to conceive.

Natural Family Planning Evening Conversations - Click on the Images Below

“Overview of the modern NFP Movement in the Catholic Church,” Peg Hensler, Rachel Hendricks, coordinator, respect life ministry
“How to speak to our young daughters about womanhood and motherhood from the Catholic perspective,” Session 1 - Enza Cerami
“How to speak to our young daughters about womanhood and motherhood from the Catholic perspective,” Session 2 - Cristina Imparato
“NFP – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Catholic Millennials Respond,” Session 1 - Kelly Prioli
“NFP – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Catholic Millennials Respond,” Session 2-Janine Garcia
“Why it’s important for our clergy to be passionate about NFP,” Father William Lago, pastor of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan
“Dealing with Infertility – A Catholic Perspective,” Kait and Bryan Mayer
“The Wonder of Adoption – A Couple’s Story,” Molly and John Cassella
“The joys and struggles of new parenthood,” Peg Hensler and daughter, Marian Hensler Laiks

National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week (July 23-29, 2023) is an educational campaign and awareness initiative sponsored by the U. S. Catholic Bishops. Each year the parishes of the Diocese of Trenton join forces with the national campaign to provide engaged and married couples with information and resources on Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning that enable couples to celebrate the gift of fertility, plan their families responsibly and embrace God’s beautiful plan for marriage and family.
Read More about the launch of Evening NFP Conversations for NFP Awareness Week 2021.