Families Gather To Embrace
On Oct. 25, 20 families shared a crisp fall afternoon at St. Philip Parish in Posey County, where they also heard and discussed information about Natural Family Planning during a picnic sponsored by the St. Philip Respect Life Committee.
St. Philip Pastor Father Claude Burns, spoke to attendees about marriage and family. “As a priest, (I) promote the culture of life; and NFP is a big part of it,” he said. “Birth control and abortion are fruits of the same tree – both obstruct life, one more obvious than the other.”
Couples need to learn about alternatives to birth control. Father Burns quoted St. Pope John Paul II saying, “Families are the building block of our church. Strong families equal a strong church.”
Deanne Goossens, head of the St. Philip Respect Life Committee, discussed the need for growing the awareness of NFP within parishes. The picnic was planned to facilitate networking for NFP, provide information for new users of the program and to emphasize that NFP is a priority.
NFP practitioner Christan Shockley, a member of Holy Redeemer Parish in Evansville, offered an overview of the practice and explained the process of getting started. She has been using NFP for 16 years.
Other attendees included Shawn Bender, a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Haubstadt, who helped develop NFP at the Holy Family Center 22 years ago, and has been teaching the program for more than 20 years; Dr. Bill Blanke, a member of Evansville’s Good Shepherd Parish, who is on the Holy Family Center Board of Directors; and NFP practitioner Lisa Cook, a member of St. Martin I Parish in Chrisney.
The group learned that three women will soon begin a yearlong program to become NFP facilitators. They include Janet Dilger and Kelli Lovell, members of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Daylight, and Amy Miller, a member of St. Benedict Cathedral Parish in Evansville.
Deacon Charles Koressel of St. Philip Parish led prayer before the group shared a meal. Children enjoyed a variety of games and other activities.
For more information about NFP, visit www.charitiesevv.org or call 812-421-2030.
