It is March for Life Week on Iowa Catholic Radio. Keeping step with the Pro-Life message, Lisa and Julie welcomed Renee McGuire, Natural Family Planning (NFP) teacher and advocate.
With her husband Kerry, Renee teaches natural family planning in the Des Moines area. But she wasn’t always an NFP believer. Renee shared her story of living life to its fullest within a double-income, no-kids marriage. When it came time to start their family, Renee and Kerry experienced a miscarriage. When conception did not happen easily after the miscarriage, Renee began to look for answers within the guidelines of the church. Kerry and Renee took their first class on NFP and were surprised by the beautiful teachings.
What was so captivating? The beautiful thing called love. We are called to love like God does. We are called to love completely our spouse in everything including fertility.
Used with permission from the NFP Program, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved.
Benefits from living NFP has been improved communication between Renee and Kerry. The depth of conversation and sharing goes deeper. It is an emotional intimacy that strengthens the marriage. No longer talking about superficial topics as to schedules and household tasks but to caring about honoring our spouse by giving ourselves completely. More you, less me. Respecting our husband’s dignity as he, like you, is created in the image and likeness of God. This level of sharing from discovering the completeness of love that brings meaning beyond the physical intimacy.
Kerry and Renee also found a healing that has brought them closer to God and to each other.
Rx: Take this pill and call me as needed. Whoa, have you ever considered the effects of oral contraceptives on the woman’s reproductive system? The otherwise healthy, functioning reproductive system is stopped, shut down through oral contraception.
The gals talked about the harmful affects of hormonal contraception, including their abortifacient, or abortion-inducing, properties. To learn more about the facts and science behind hormonal contraception, check out Dr. Janet Smith’s site, Sexual Common Sense. In particular, take some time to listen to her talk Contraception: Why Not.
Virtues in Vogue — Obedience. Obedience can be a scary word or duty, but fulfilling this virtue can lead to many spiritual graces. Through the practice of NFP, Renee and Kerry have discovered perseverance, tolerance, faithfulness, self-control, diligence, joy, and faith.
Perhaps you are feeling a tug to explore a natural approach and to discover the treasures of NFP for your marriage? Here are some great resources.
- Marriage and Family Office, Diocese of Des Moines, Adam Storey, Director
Want to learn more about natural family planning? Attend the Abundant Living Wine and Cheese Social on Thursday, January 24.
- Vitae Family Health Care, Dr. Greg McKernan
Dr. McKernan is one of a few natural family planning-only doctors in Iowa. His new clinic, Vitae Family Care, is now open and accepting patients in West Des Moines. Vitae is the Latin word meaning “for life.” Dr. McKernan seeks to build a culture of life, not only by refusing to participate in abortion, sterilization, euthanasia, in-vitro fertilization, or artificial contraception, but he is also committed to holistic healthcare disease prevention. He is now board-eligible in NaProTechnology — a new technology that gets to the heart of a woman’s fertility.
- Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning course
For more information on the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning, visit the Couple to Couple League website. The next three-part series of classes is scheduled to begin Sunday, February 10 from 6-8:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines. Cost is a one-time fee of $140 for all course materials, classes, one year of consultation with certified instructors, plus a one-year subscription to Family Foundations magazine. On-line registration is required at www.ccli.org or contact Kerry or Renee at (515) 278-1623 or reneemcguire@hotmail.com.
Renee has also written a few blogposts that highlight more of her story. Read those here.
Thanks for listening today. Know that we remember you in prayer as we walk the path of womanhood in today’s world together as God’s beloved daughters. Stay in touch with us at catholicwomennow@iowacatholicradio.com.
Go do impossible things with Him.
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