NFP Program, USCCB | December 2020 | Vol. 2, No. 3 |
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DIRECTOR'S DESK
Dear Diocesan NFP Coordinators,
When last I sent you the April 2020 special quarantine edition of our NFP News Feed, I never thought that by December we would still be in a lockdown. But, here in the District of Columbia (as in many cities of the nation), the USCCB staff continue to work remotely. "Patience" and "perseverance" seem to be the virtues of the time!
Patience and perseverance are the "go-to" virtues for all that we do in NFP ministry. Indeed, these hearty virtues help with so much in life! And, they are good virtues to reflect upon during the season of Advent. When obstacles impact our projects in marriage and NFP ministry (e.g., unforeseen issues such as change in staff, budget, or additional plans from superiors, etc.), frustration can reign. We may be tempted to think that our work is in vain. With each challenge, however, patience and perseverance (as well as a healthy dose of creativity and humor), can help us! All this and invoking the aid of the Holy Spirit can literally save the day!
During Advent, let us pray for each other and ask the Holy Spirit to help us grow in patience and perseverance. Let us turn our work over to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to work through us as we labor in marriage and NFP ministry!
Meanwhile, I hope this issue of the NFP News Feed will provide you with uplifting and useful information. Remember to send me any announcements that you would like to include in this publication or group emails that I send to the diocesan marriage and family life directors and NFP coordinators.
Also, remember that some of this information is posted on the USCCB website on the NFP News page. And, do forward this publication to your NFP teachers. Remember, I do not maintain a list of your teachers. I rely on you to share this information!
May you have a blessed Advent and joyous Christmas!
Theresa
PS: For the first time in our history, the USCCB provided our staff with a virtual blessing of the Advent wreath. You can view it and pray with our staff at youtube.com/watch?v=0k1qLyl_olc.
Theresa Notare, PhD
Assistant Director
Natural Family Planning Program
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th St., N. E.
Washington, DC 20017
202-541-3240
nfp@usccb.org
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Rev. Daniel McCaffrey, STD
As many of you know, Fr. McCaffrey is the founder and director of NFP Outreach (nfpoutreach.org), a national parish mission
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for NFP and Church teaching education. Fr. McCaffrey describes his journey from missionary work, to studying for a doctorate in Rome, joining the US Army, and eventually to founding NFP Outreach. Throughout his life, Fr. McCaffrey notes that the Lord gave him deep insight into God's plan for married love and life. It is a gift that Fr. McCaffrey strives to share with all people. His hope is that all pastors will do the same!
If you wish to have Fr. McCaffrey offer a parish NFP mission in your diocese, please contact nfpoutreach@att.net.
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Richard Fehring, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Fehring is the director of the Marquette University College of Nursing Institute for Natural Family Planning and Emeritus Professor. Dr. Fehring developed the Marquette Method (MM), a Sympto-Hormonal Method. The MM teaches women to monitor their cycles of fertility by using a fertility monitor and observing their signs of fertility (e.g., cervical mucus and basal body temperature).
Dr. Fehring has published over 180 articles and book chapters, co-edited three books, and has generated over three million dollars in research and foundation grants on various NFP projects. His research interests include the effectiveness of NFP methods, marital responses to family planning, and religious influences on human sexuality. To learn more about the Marquette Method see https://www.marquette.edu/nursing/nat....
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NFP ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next year's theme is
To have ... To hold ... To honor
Natural Family Planning
Supporting God's gifts of love and life in marriage.
We hope to have the poster uploaded to the USCCB website early in 2021. The supportive resources will follow. Stay tuned for more!
Diocesan NFP Program Profile Survey, 2020
The 2020 diocesan NFP survey will be the last in the form that we have used for the past 10 years. Diocesan NFP coordinators will receive an email in January 2021 to complete the survey. Once we collect the 2020 data, we will generate a ten-year overview report. After that, we hope to shorten the report for ease of use.
USCCB YourMembership
This diocesan professionals’ secure website can become a helpful resource for your ministry. The site enables you to upload documents to share, download USCCB/NFP resources and other files from your colleagues, as well as group email your peers for ideas and assistance. Why not take a look? Visit usccb.site-ym.com. Remember, your diocesan email is your username, your password will be the year that we entered your name + -nfp.
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Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Contact us at nfp@usccb.org. We can help you navigate this useful resource! Oh, and remember that we had posted the MP-4 files of the introduction to NFP science and methods e-learn on the site. The chapters are there for you to use in your educational efforts! Now do you want to go to the site?
Congratulations to FACTS on their 10th anniversary!
FACTS is celebrating ten years of striving to educate the next generation of medical professionals about the benefits of NFP methods including its application in women's health. Listen to the stories of FACTS members on their website at factsaboutfertility.org/10-years-10-stories-10-days.
St. Augustine Foundation looking for Part-Time Help
The St. Augustine Foundation is looking for a part-time administrative assistant (15-20 hours) for their Catholic Couples NFP project. The position includes: screening and registering accepted applicants; coordinating assignments between couples and NFP teachers; monitoring of and approving payment to NFP teachers; and assistance in weekly mailings. This position also supports the possibility of training the administrative assistant to become an NFP teacher. Contact: John E. Fitzgerald, St. Augustine Foundation, Catholic Couples NFP, 538 Riverdale Ave., Yonkers, NY 10705; Direct: (914) 613-5510; jef@jefitzgerald.net
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Upcoming NFP & Related Events |
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December 2, 9, 16: Family Honor
offers a series of webinars about love, purity, and God’s purpose for human sexuality.
Dec. 2: Leading & Loving; Session 4, Parents Only (parents of young children– ages 0-11), Register
Dec. 9: Leading & Loving, Session 5, Parents Only (parents of young children –ages 0-11), Register
Dec. 16: Leading & Loving, Session 6, Parents Only (parents of young children– ages 0-11), Register
Springtime in the Desert is hosting an Advent virtual mini-retreat for couples struggling with infertility with a live Facebook event on December 6 at 2:00PM Eastern Time.
December 7th (1:00 PM EST) FACTS offers, "Female Cycle as the Fifth Vital Sign." This presentation focuses on the science underlying NFP methods and demonstrates how medical professionals systematically read charts of the female cycle to reliably monitor and manage reproductive health concerns. The course content offers 1.00 Elective credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eh6c1q3rd9efdaf8&oseq=&c=&ch=
Dec 7 (11:00 AM CST)–Dec 11, 2020 (11:00 AM CST)
"Arise"-- Ministry with Young Adults in a Time of Innovation. This virtual conference is sponsored by the USCCB's Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth and the USCCB's National Advisory Team on Young Adult Ministry. The conference is for all Catholic leaders who minister to young adults. Please consider registering even if you can only make parts of the week-long meeting. It is sure to be useful for your ministry! To view the agenda and speakers, visit the website. To register visit eventbrite.com/e/national-leadership-forum-on-ministry-with-young-adults-registration-126139768443.
2021
January 12, 2021 (8:00 PM - 9:00 PM GMT): International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM) presents, “January Journal Club: A Simple and Improved Predictor of Insulin Resistance Extracted From the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test,” with speaker Mary Davenport, MD. From the IIRRM website, the Journal Club provides "a critical appraisal of published research relevant to the field of Restorative Reproductive Medicine. These sessions are designed to increase providers’ competence to critically evaluate research by increasing their knowledge of the scientific method, research design, and common biases." Learn more at iirrm.org/event/january-journal-club-a-simple-and-improved-predictor-of-insulin-resistance-extracted-from-the-oral-glucose-tolerance-test.
Please send us information about your NFP events. We will feature them in this newsletter and post them here to share on the USCCB website!
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Remember the USCCB's many resources that teach about the unique nature of marriage. These include Podcasts, videos, blogs, and more. See Marriage Unique for a Reason!
BOMA-USA has posted their quarterly webinars at boma-usa.org/events.html. Please take a look at their many helpful topics. Note: the cost may vary if you are not a member.
BCC is a hybrid of the Sympto-Thermal and Sympto-Hormonal NFP methods. With its roots in the New England NFP Association of past memory, BCC seeks to meet the contemporary client's needs by offering a 100% virtual experience of NFP education for teacher candidates and students. Please note, presently, BCC is not listed in the main USCCB's NFP Providers' directory due to clarification that is needed regarding its integration of Church teaching in the teacher and client's curricula (we are working together to obtain this clarity). That said, its founder, Mary Finnegan, is a former diocesan NFP coordinator (Archdiocese of Boston) and member of the USCCB NFP National Advisory Board.
ByItsFruits.org is a website designed by Brian Whittaker and his wife Naomi Whittaker, MD. Dr. Naomi is an Ob/Gyn NaProTechnology physician. The mission of the website is to give FertilityCare™ professionals the tools to create awareness about the Creighton Model System and NaProTechnology® and to help them succeed in building their practices. That said, this very useful website offers lots of food for thought that can help all NFP teachers. Take some time to check it out!
FACTS provides webinars, a speakers list, and much more on the science and methodology of all the NFP methods. Visit the FACTS website at factsaboutfertility.org.
FEMM is a hybrid cervical mucus method that makes use of an App for charting. This system also integrates current research on a woman's reproductive hormones and has a companion medical system that supports the method. Many of you have asked about FEMM. Please know that presently FEMM is not listed in the main USCCB's NFP Providers' directory due to clarification that is needed regarding its integration of Church teaching in the teacher and client's curricula. In addition, FEMM does not require its teachers or medical practitioners to be "NFP-only." That said, if you use FEMM in your diocese for NFP education, it is important to discuss these concerns with individual FEMM providers who may be "NFP-only."
IIRRM
The International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IRRM) provides webinars and other important resources for its members. They also archive files of previous webinars posted on their website. Consider joining and making this resource available for your NFP teachers. See iirrm.org.
Listen Fertility is a Sympto-Hormonal method that was developed by medical professionals and educators at the Reply Ob/Gyn & Fertility clinic in North Carolina (associated with the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina, USA). Presently, Listen Fertility is not listed in the main USCCB's NFP Providers' directory due to clarification that is needed regarding its integration of Church teaching in the teacher and client's curricula. In addition, it is not clear that Listen Fertility requires its teachers or medical practitioners to be "NFP-only." It is important to discuss this concern with individual Listen Fertility providers if they present themselves to work in your diocesan NFP program.
Marquette Model users can find support and advice on the official MM Facebook page.
Natural Womanhood is a secular national NFP education organization. Their website offers engaging articles and other useful resources.
Off the Charts. Jenny Uebbing (from the Archdiocese of Denver) founded this website to provide on-going pastoral help to NFP users. A subscription fee is charged for full access to the community. More information? Contact offthecharts@gmail.com.
Sensiplan is a well-researched highly effective Sympto-Thermal Method of NFP that was developed by scientists and medical professionals in Germany (Universities of Düsseldorf and Heidelberg). It is the only European NFP method that is offered in the United States by the staff at the Reply Clinic (North Carolina). Attention: presently, Sensiplan is not listed in the main USCCB's NFP Providers' directory due to clarification that is needed regarding its integration of Church teaching in the teacher and client's curricula. In addition, it is not clear that Sensiplan requires its teachers or medical practitioners to be "NFP-only." It is important to discuss this concern with individual Sensiplan providers if they wish to work in your diocesan NFP program.
Whole Mission is an NFP education website developed by Marquette Method nurse teachers. These nurse teachers reside in different states. They provide both group and individual instruction in the Marquette Method. They can provide courses both in-person and online. Online classes are conducted through a secure video meeting platform.
You, Me, and NFP is an exciting website developed by a Marquette Method teacher and her friends. The site provides an engaging and simple overview of NFP methods and Catholic teaching. It also features a blog, information about NaProTechnology, and a link for registration to learn the Marquette Method.
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NOTE: If you have been looking for Current Medical Research on the USCCB website, past issues up to 2017 are posted here. We have recently found a new editor and are now planning future issues. We hope to begin this in 2021. Thank you for your patience!
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With the decade-long decrease in birthrates in the USA, the world-wide pandemic can make matters worse especially as more people lose their jobs and face an uncertain future. Read this article in the National Catholic Register.
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Some wives experience painful sex, especially before the start of menstruation. This article from Natural Womanhood discusses how tracking the menstrual cycle can help stop the pain.
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The article “Breastfeeding in Mothers with COVID-19: A Research Review,” posted on the FACTS website, discusses the evidence "suggesting that breast-feeding is safe in the setting of COVID-19 as long as proper infection control measures are in place." It notes that the "growing body of research indicating that spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 appears to be primarily via respiratory droplets."
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When a woman works out, she will be aware of her energy level. But, will she understand the role that her menstrual cycle plays in it? Read this article in Verily to find out why!
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Guiding Star was born from the conviction that women deserve better than the current standard for mainstream women’s healthcare. This Pro-Life and Pro-NFP organization is a nationwide family of care centers that empower women to understand, embrace, and love their natural bodies.
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Person & Identity Project is an educational outreach of the Catholic Women's Forum. This website provides resources about men and women being made in the image and likeness of God. It includes Catholic teaching about the person and human sexuality, as well as information about gender ideology and its dangers. The content is tailored for parents, schools, and Catholic leaders.
This honest and difficult article reveals the heart-felt desire of an NFP couple to follow God's plan for their marriage. And, it led to outreach to other NFP couples with a new blog called Total W(h)ine.
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Renew Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit! |
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With all the challenges we have had in the Church and in the world during 2020,
why not spend some time in reflection and prayer with God the Holy Spirit?
can help you!
The Ministry of the Wild Goose is part of Franciscan Pathways, a non-profit outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Third Order Regular. The title "Wild Goose," is an ancient Celtic Christian reference to the Holy Spirit as the "Wild Goose."
In their own words, the mission of The Ministry of the Wild Goose is to invite men and women to an encounter" or renew their "encounter with Christ who perfectly reveals the love of the Father by the grace of the Holy Spirit."
The resource, to begin with, is "The Wild Goose," a 14-part video series of reflections that can help you to deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Each episode is short (20 - 29 min).
These videos have a perfect balance of catechetical content (faith and reason) and heart. The narrator, Fr. Dave Pivonka, communicates holy intimacy and personal care to the viewer with clarity of doctrine. He also ends each video with homework (e.g., take 5 min and ask the Holy Spirit to ...) that further engages the viewer. In addition, the videos are BEAUTIFUL--a real delight to engage with!
Their most recent project is called Metanoia. You can watch that series now on their website (thewildgooseisloose.com). Note: if you use the website, you will be asked to subscribe. You can do that and if you are not able to pay for a subscription, scroll down to the bottom of the page. You can still join and not pay for the subscription (it would be good, however, to send a donation later).
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Thank you for your efforts to promote
God's gifts of
marriage, love and life!
May the Lord God bless you and your families!
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