4 Holy Hours for your Marriage
Find simple and meaningful ways to pray for your spouse and marriage.
|UNDER CONSTRUCTION| This page is a work in progress. More family prayer options are coming soon!
Family Prayer
Author: Sarah Streitwieser
Family Life – Ministries & Events
Events:
Prescription for a Long Healthy Life Together
Face To Face – Adoration Holy Hour in the Church, First Sunday of the month at 7pm
School of Love Date Night First Thursday of the month.
Parish Family Ministries:
Newly Marrieds – Sarah Streitwieser
Mothers of Young Children (MOYC)
Cub Scouts – Brian Padley 847-454-4185
Boy Scouts – Jeff Smith 913-706-5560
Small Groups:
Choice Wine — If you are interested in starting a small group, contact Sarah Streitwieser for materials
Ascension Families – Articles
Family Life Articles from Around the Web
The Anonymous Stay at Home Mom
Yes, You Can Raise Faithful Kids
5 Reasons not to Live together before Marriage
Raising Teenagers
Digital Marriage Retreats
Amoris Laetitia 30 Day Email Meditations
Ascension Families – Book Corner
Recommended Reading
More recommendations with summaries are coming soon!
Strong Fathers; Strong Daughters
The 5 Love Languages
Ascension Families – Printable Resources
Printable Resources:
Date Night Conversation Starters:
Looking Back
Looking Ahead
Gratitude
Connecting Spiritually
From our Holy Fathers:
Family Life – Seasonal
Find Family Resources for Each Season
More seasonal resources are coming soon!
What is NFP?
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve and avoid pregnancies. These methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Couples using NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from intercourse and genital contact during the fertile phase of the woman’s cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy. NFP reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, and recognizes the value of the child. By respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife.
Is NFP Rhythm? NFP is not “Rhythm.” The Rhythm (or Calendar) method was developed in the 1930s. It was based on the theory that the time of next ovulation could be determined by calculating previous menstrual cycles. This method often proved inaccurate because of the unique nature of each woman’s menstrual cycle: some women have very irregular cycles and almost all women have a cycle of unusual length once in a while.
On the other hand, NFP methods are progressive. That is, they are based on progressive, day-to-day observations of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. NFP methods take advantage of the changes associated with ovulation, treating each cycle as unique.
Couples using NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from intercourse during the fertile phase of the woman’s cycle. Couples who wish to achieve a pregnancy can also take advantage of the fertile time of the cycle. Because it allows couples to adjust their behavior to the naturally occurring cycles of a woman’s body, NFP is not a contraceptive–i.e., it does nothing to work against conception.
What are the signs of fertility? A woman’s body provides three basic ways to identify the fertile and infertile times of her cycle. Recognizing the pattern of those physical signs forms the basis for all methods of NFP.
A primary sign of fertility is the mucus released from the women’s cervix. A woman learns to identify the normal, healthy, cervical mucus which indicates the days that intercourse is most likely to result in a pregnancy. The second sign is her basal body temperature. Due to hormonal activity, a woman’s waking temperature changes during the menstrual cycle. Lower temperatures indicate that ovulation has not yet occurred. Higher temperatures indicate a rise in progesterone which signals the end of the fertile time. The third sign is a change in the shape or texture of the cervix. Finally, secondary signs, such as minor abdominal pain or pressure at the time of ovulation can also be observed.
How does NFP work? NFP instruction helps a couple identify the most opportune time to achieve as well as avoid a pregnancy. Understanding that intercourse or genital contact during the fertile time can result in pregnancy, couples using the natural methods must be clear regarding their family planning intention–that is, do they wish to achieve or avoid a pregnancy?
If a couple wishes to achieve pregnancy, they have intercourse during the fertile time. If a couple wishes to avoid pregnancy, they abstain from intercourse and any genital contact during the fertile time. No artificial methods are used during the fertile time. These would interfere with a women’s observation of her fertility signs.
What are the benefits of using NFP? In NFP both spouses are taught to understand the nature of fertility and work with it, either to plan a pregnancy or to avoid a pregnancy. Couples who use NFP soon learn that they have a shared responsibility for family planning. Husbands are encouraged to “tune into” their wives’ cycles and both spouses are encouraged to speak openly and frankly about their sexual desires and their ideas on family size.
Other benefits include:
- Low cost
- No harmful side effects
- Effectiveness for achieving, spacing, or limiting pregnancy
- Can be used throughout the reproductive life cycle
- Marriage enrichment and mutual understanding
- Appreciation for the value of children
- Fosters respect for and acceptance of the total person
- Moral acceptability
How effective are the natural family planning methods for avoiding pregnancy? When couples understand the methods and are motivated to follow them, NFP is up to 99% successful in spacing or limiting births.
The effectiveness of NFP depends upon the spouses’ following the rules of the method according to their family planning intention (i.e., achieving or limiting pregnancy). Those who are strongly motivated to avoid pregnancy and follow the method-defined rules are very effective in meeting their goal.
Page content courtesy of http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/what-is-nfp/ .
NFP Links
NFP – Contacts
If you have searched through available resources and still have questions, feel free to reach out to one of the contacts listed below. We would love to help find answers to your questions!
Contacts at Ascension
- Sarah Streitwieser (in Ascension parish office): sstreitwieser@kcascension.org
- Brandon and Abby Hall: hall.abby6@gmail.com
- James and Angela Moburg: angela233951@gmail.com
Contacts at the Diocese
- Brad and Libby DuPont (Office of Marriage and Family for Diocese): bdupont@archkck.org
- Sam Meier (My House initiative, Diocese): smeier@archkck.org
NFP Links
NFP – Doctors
All of the doctors listed on this page are familiar with various methods of Natural Family Planning. If you and your spouse or fiance are interested in learning/using Natural Family Planning, we highly suggest that you choose a physician that will affirm and support your choice.
NFP-ONLY DOCTORS, TRAINED IN NAPRO TECHNOLOGY
Are you suffering from infertility and have been offered IVF as your only hope of conceiving a child? Do you have symptoms such as irregular cycles, severe PMS, depression, or painful periods? Or would you just like to go to a doctor that respects your decision to use natural family planning? The medical professionals listed below may be able to help.
These doctors, in addition to their normal medical training, have undergone training at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, NE. This training allows them special expertise in treating common women’s health problems at their root– without the use of hormonal contraceptives.null
Bruce Snider, MD, OB/GYN, NFPMCI
Olathe Women’s Center
20375 W. 151st St. #250
Olathe, KS 66061
913-764-6262
OB/GYN
Isaac Johnston, MD
Olathe Health-Blackfoot Clinic
15435 West 134th St.
Olathe, KS 66062
(913) 782-7515
Family Medicine with Obstetrics
Patrick Herrick, MD, PHD, FCMCI
Olathe Health-Blackfoot Clinic
15435 West 134th St.
Olathe, KS 66062
(913) 782-7515
Family Medicine with Obstetrics
Angelique Pritchett, MD, FCMC
& Terese Bauer, MD
Gianna Family Care
10820 W 64th St. Suite 202, Shawnee, KS
www.giannafamilycare.com
Ann Smith, MD, NFPMC
Menorah Medical Center
5701 W 119 St. Suite 410
Overland Park, KS 66209
(913) 345-3650
Family Practice
Melissa Yeats, MD, CFCMC
Olathe Family Practice
20375 W. 151st St. #105
Olathe, KS 66061
913-782-8487
Family Practice
NFP-ONLY PHYSICIANS
These doctors do not prescribe artificial contraception and are familiar with Natural Family Planning
Kevin Punswick, D.O.
18320 S. Center St.
Gardener, KS 66030
913-856-5577
Family Practice
Marcus H. Weiser, D.O.
Community Health Care System of NE Kansas
120 W 8th St.
Onaga, KS 66521
785-889-4241
Family Medicine with Obstetrics
NFP Links