2026 NFP Campaign
The Challenge Of Infertility & The Promise Of Restorative Reproductive Medicine
WEEK 1:
"A Trinity of Love: Where God Enters the Picture"
Soon-to-be beatified Archbishop Fulton Sheen used a simple image of a triangle to describe marriage: husband and wife are two points at the base, but God is the third point at the top, and their love for one another must first rise toward Him before it can bear fruit between them.
When a couple struggles with infertility, it can feel like that fruitfulness is being withheld, and that pain is real; it is rightly called a cross. But even here, God remains in the midst of the marriage, and the "children" born of a couple's love don't always take the form expected. Sometimes they are spiritual children, works of mercy, or a fruitfulness the couple could not have planned.
This month, we begin exploring Restorative Reproductive Medicine, a faithful, medically sound path that seeks healing for couples facing these crosses. Join us as we walk through it together.
Links:
Three to Get Married by Fulton Sheen: https://watch.formed.org/marriage-and-family-life-audio/videos/three-to-get-married-by-venerable-fulton-j-sheen
The National Catholic Bioethics Center: https://www.ncbcenter.org/messages-from-presidents/tformalcooperationnwithevil-wpzgk
WEEK 2:
"Children Are A Gift, Not a Right"
Last week we talked about God entering into the cross of infertility so why wouldn't we also promote IVF or surrogacy as a path forward? Because IVF treats infertility as something to work around rather than a symptom to understand and heal, and the process itself raises serious ethical questions the Church takes seriously, including how it handles the many embryonic lives created along the way.
It also asks a great deal of women's bodies, carries real medical risks, and comes with steep costs, all for success rates lower than many people realize. Underneath these concerns is a beautiful truth: every child, however they came to be, is deeply loved by God and a gift to their family—and we believe children deserve to be conceived through an act of love, not a medical procedure.
See the links below to dive deeper into these truths. Next week, we'll return to the loving, life-respecting path we introduced last time—one that treats both the couple and their future children with the dignity they deserve.
LINKS:
Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/reproductive-technology/begotten-not-made-a-catholic-view-of-reproductive-technology
Reproductive Technology (includes multiple links): https://www.usccb.org/prolife/reproductive-technology
(Video) Catholic Teaching on IVF: Explained by a Catholic Priest: https://www.google.com/search?q=you+tube+why+is+ivf+and+surrogacy+not+ok+with+the+catholic+church&oq=you+tube+why+is+IVF+and+surrogacy+not+ok+with+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgBECEYChigATIGCAAQRRg5MgkIARAhGAoYoAEyCQgCECEYChigATIJCAMQIRgKGKABMgcIBBAhGKsCMgcIBRAhGKsCMgcIBhAhGKsCMgcIBxAhGJ8FMgcICBAhGI8C0gEJMTkwOTZqMGo0qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6237532e,vid:tJWpYn0fjfc,st:0
WEEK 3:
"Real Answers, Not Just an Alternative"
What if infertility isn't just something to work around, but a signal your body is asking you to listen to? Restorative Reproductive Medicine, including NaProTechnology, does exactly that: it identifies and treats the root causes behind infertility, from hormonal imbalances to endometriosis to cycle irregularities, often restoring a couple's natural fertility altogether. This isn't the Church's consolation prize for those who won't pursue IVF. It's genuine, evidence-based medicine that treats both body and marriage with dignity, working with a woman's cycle instead of overriding it. For many couples, it succeeds where other approaches couldn't, because it heals rather than bypasses. This week, we invite you to see RRM not as a "no," but as a hopeful and faithful "yes." If you or someone you love is walking this road, follow the links to learn more about RRM and find doctors in our area who can help.
LINKS:
Reel by Dr. Puthoff about RRM: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DNETPo3AV0h/
Doctor list: https://www.diobelle.org/images/stories/respect-life/NFP%20Physicians%20and%20Nurses%20PDF.pdf
Let’s Talk about RRM (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfjfDjbIEM
NaProTechnology: https://naprotechnology.com/infertility/
MyCatholicDoctor explanation of RRM: https://mycatholicdoctor.com/our-services/restorative-reproductive-medicine/
WEEK 4:
"Walking With Those Who Wait"
"When are you guys going to have kids?" It's a question asked with love, but for couples facing infertility or recurrent miscarriages, it can quietly reopen a wound so, this week, we invite all of us to learn how to accompany them well instead of offering advice or platitudes. For couples walking this road, know you're not alone. Springs in the Desert and Enkindle here in St. Louis offer community, prayer, and support for exactly this kind of struggle. Let's commit to praying for these couples and their marriages, trusting that even here, God is writing a story of hope. Whether you're in the wait or walking beside someone who is, click the QR code for resources.
LINKS:
Miscarriage and Loss Resources: https://www.nfpgoodforlife.com/miscarriage-loss-resources-st-louis/
Reflections on infertility and loss: https://www.nfpgoodforlife.com/tag/enkindle/
Springs In the Desert: https://springsinthedesert.org/
Infertility: Some Advice to Family and Friends on What Not to Say: https://stpaulcenter.com/posts/infertility-some-advice-to-family-and-friends-on-what-not-to-say
Addressing Infertility with Compassion and Clarity: https://www.usccb.org/prolife/addressing-infertility-compassion-and-clarity
God in Charge - Open to Life
WEEK 1:
"Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself."
—St. Pope John Paul II
At the heart of every human person is the call to love.
Young or old, single, married, widowed—we are each capable of becoming a gift to another. We become a self-gift when we sit beside a friend in need, offer our time in service, faithfully "show up" for our children, choose love when it is most difficult, and when husbands and wives give themselves to one another freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully.
In giving ourselves away, we do not lose who we are; we discover who we were created to be. Through these daily acts of self-giving love, we reflect the very heart of God and His infinite, unconditional love for each of us.
The call to become a gift of self lies at the heart of God's beautiful plan for marriage and family. Through St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, discover the deeper meaning of authentic love.
Links :
What is the Theology of the Body?: https://aleteia.org/2022/05/28/what-is-the-theology-of-the-body/
USCCB Theology of the Body Overview: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/catholic-teaching/theology-of-the-body
Video: What Is the Theology of the Body? – Christopher West: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37daHBmiFM4
Video: Our Bodies Tell the Story of God’s Love – Christopher West & Chris Stefanik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukEy4x0Jj-8
Books: https://paulinestore.com/faith-formation/theology-of-the-body.html/
WEEK 2:
“Discover the Power of Natural Family Planning”
NFP is a church-approved, scientifically validated system of fertility awareness that honors your marriage vows to love Freely, Totally, Faithfully, and Fruitfully.
But how many children should you have? The Church leaves that to your prayerful discernment through “responsible parenthood”—balancing a generous heart with a prudent look at your life circumstances.
NFP also empowers ALL women by decoding the body's natural signs. It provides deep insight into reproductive health, helps uncover underlying medical issues, and fosters true marital connection. Follow the QR code to learn about several different methods of NFP, Responsible Parenthood, and more. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more help in finding the right method for you.
Links :
Why choose NFP for your marriage?: https://naturalwomanhood.org/family-planning-for-newlyweds-nfp-vs-contraception/
Different Method of NFP explained (in-person, mostly virtual): https://naturalwomanhood.org/which-fertility-awareness-method-best-fabm-nfp/
NFP Classes Available In-Person: https://www.diobelle.org/nfp/methods-classes
A Deep Dive Into John Paul II's "Love & Responsibility" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lam1RoxznhQ&t=296s
The Responsible Parenthood of ‘Humanae Vitae’ Requires Virtue: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-responsible-parenthood-of-humanae-vitae-requires-virtue
WEEK 3:
“NFP: Science-Backed. Life-Changing.”
So, how do you actually learn NFP? Start by choosing an NFP method that you prefer. Most take about 3 months to learn, guided by a certified instructor. Contact our diocesan NFP Coordinator, Emily Joost, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for guidance.
The payoff? A lifetime of body literacy — a gift from God to be used in harmony with His design — to avoid or achieve pregnancy, navigate PMS, PCOS, postpartum, infertility, and even perimenopause.
And yes — it works. Modern NFP methods are 97–99% effective at avoiding pregnancy, backed by continually advancing research and rooted in the Church's teaching on the beauty of the human person. Scan the QR code to see how the numbers compare and get more information about methods.
Links:
Method effectiveness rates: https://public.files.capacity.com/b74c60b2-5d6b-4369-ae6a-8eed6e9bbb22/0cf651d9-ef0e-4464-a000-ed6c66401482?FU=1729609270
NFP vs. Contraceptives: https://public.files.capacity.com/b74c60b2-5d6b-4369-ae6a-8eed6e9bbb22/ef395b9d-5dbd-45b5-988d-d09e65f8227a?FU=1719675383
Postpartum Guidance: https://naturalwomanhood.org/topic/postpartum/
Perimenopause Guidance: https://naturalwomanhood.org/topic/perimenopause-and-menopause/
Methods and effectiveness: https://naturalwomanhood.org/topic/effectiveness-rates/ 
WEEK 4:
“The Feminine Genius”
Natural Family Planning is known for helping couples avoid or achieve pregnancy, but its foundation, Fertility Awareness, offers something for every woman, married or single, from her very first cycle to menopause. Every girl and woman deserves to understand her body and know how to address irregularities like painful periods, persistent acne, or hormonal imbalances by treating the root cause, not masking it with artificial hormones.
This is real female empowerment: knowledge that honors how God designed the female body and equips women to seek healing, not just symptom relief. Moms, you can walk this journey with your daughters, helping them see their cycles as a sign of health and a reflection of their dignity.
Links:
Body Literacy for Catholics: https://www.pearlandthistle.com/
Doctor referral list: https://www.diobelle.org/images/stories/respect-life/NFP%20Physicians%20and%20Nurses%20PDF.pdf
Wonder of Eve (reach out to Emily at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if interested): https://www.nfpgoodforlife.com/embrace-the-wonder-a-look-at-the-program-the-wonder-of-eve/
Cycle Mindfulness Clubs: https://naturalwomanhood.org/cycle-mindfulness-clubs/
HRT for Perimenopause: https://catholicwomeninbusiness.com/articles/20menopause-in-the-workplace-preparation-management-and-reflection-for-the-modern-catholic-woman
Mother/Daughter Course: https://catholicwomeninbusiness.com/articles/20menopause-in-the-workplace-preparation-management-and-reflection-for-the-modern-catholic-woman