Natural Family Planning (NFP)

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is a national campaign through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and will be held July 21st-27th. This annual awareness week is always celebrated during the week of the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25). The encyclical articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood.  The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother. For more information on NFP awareness week or to download promotional material, please click HERE

Also called fertility awareness, Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a term used to naturally achieve or postpone pregnancy. These methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to postpone pregnancy. NFP reflects the dignity of the woman 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. 

Since the methods of NFP respect the love-giving (unitive) and life-giving (procreative) nature of the conjugal act, they support God's design for married love!

The Diocese of Lafayette currently has instructors trained in the following methods. Please click on the method to learn more or to register for that particular method.  

• Billings Ovulation Method   

• Creighton Model System 

• Family of the Americas (Spanish instructor available) - Please call the Office of Marriage and Family Life for more information.

• Sympto-Thermal Method