The Covenant of Love marriage preparation policy mandates that all engaged couples in the marriage preparation program attend the full Natural Family Planning course. To prepare to deliver the NFP services in support of the policy, we utilized a multi-layered approach.
NFP couple parish representatives
We recruited and trained couples who already were using NFP in their marriages with a 4 hr training session. In 4 years of trainings twice per year, we have 25 Parish Rep Couples for NFP promotion in their parishes.
These are NFP liaison couples to assist pastors in promoting NFP and to be NFP point persons for the laity. They promote in RCIA classes, Marriage Preparation, Bible Studies, Women’s & Men’s Fellowship Groups, Baptism Classes, Ministry Fairs, after Mass-especially during National NFP Week at end of July. They raise awareness for natural methods. Download: NFP Parish Rep training (PPT).
Volunteer NFP instructors
We focus on Recruitment, Training, and On-going Formation. The Diocese of Phoenix provides NFP instruction in all the major methods and trains in-house for Sympto-Thermal and a Mucus-only method. We brought in a trainer for a sponsored Creighton Training. We promote cooperation and collaboration among NFP providers across all major methods and promote parity between English and Spanish classes. We recruit for teachers and advertise NFP classes using many low cost or free advertising opportunities, such as:
- Bulletin Announcements
- Catholic Newspaper Ads
- “Come and See” evenings
- Deacon’s Congress
- NFP Class Evaluations & Teacher Recommendations
- “New Mommy” packets at Catholic Hospitals
- Bridal Shows
Instruction in all the methods
The Natural Family Planning methods we offer in the Diocese of Phoenix are:
- Northwest Family Services Sympto-Thermal Method
- Family of the Americas Ovulation Method
- BOMA-Billings Ovulation Method Association
- Couple to Couple League International
- Creighton Model/Fertility Care
- Marquette Method
If you are looking to get married in the Diocese of Phoenix, please visit our website at https://phxmarriageprep.org where you can find all the information you need as well as the class schedules.
Diocesan NFP introduction presentation
We developed a 2 hour PowerPoint presentation with script for promotional purposes which can be shared with other dioceses. With God’s Plan content acting as preparation for NFP coursework, the NFP introduction is now just for married couples.
The 2 hour PowerPoint Presentation covers:
- Theology of the Body
- Responsible Parenthood
- Male/Female Anatomy & Scientific Basis of NFP
- Effectiveness Rates
- Contraceptive Side Effects/Methods of Action
- Couple Witness: Benefits of NFP/Periodic Abstinence
On-line registration and instruction
To promote, register, advertise, and offer refresher and special classes to clients throughout their reproductive lifetime, we developed a website in both English and Spanish—www.phxnfp.org.
On-line instruction is viable and efficient. It is especially helpful with rural parishioners and where there are not enough teachers to teach all couples in marriage preparation. This has become a part time job for one instructor in the Diocese of Phoenix. Three national providers of Sympto-Thermal online classes are:
- Northwest Family Services online instruction
- Couple to Couple League Virtual Classroom
- BOMA – Billings Ovulation Method Association
The Diocese of Phoenix can support the training of their own online instructors by sharing prepared email responses, compliance strategies etc.
Support for NFP-only medical providers
Support for NFP-only medical providers is very important and there are lots of ways you can show your support. Here are a few:
- Meet and welcome those in Diocese
- Provide their business cards at all NFP classes and promotional events.
- Pray for them
- Personally reach out to them. Best if Bishop invites personally to meet.
- Outreach to Catholic Physicians Guild and/or Catholic Medical Association chapters
MorningStar Ob/Gyn and Dr. William Chavira are examples of NFP only Ob/Gyns in the Diocese of Phoenix. To find NFP only healthcare professionals in your area, visit: onemoresoul.com/nfp-directory.