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SAN ANTONIO • To address the serious problems caused by the use of contraception, the archdiocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life is hosting a four-day master teacher institute training in Natural Family Planning (NFP) at the Pastoral Center from Feb. 5-8.
Mercedes Arzu Wilson, president and founder of the Family of the Americas Foundation, will be coming to San Antonio to train couples committed to becoming master teachers in their parishes and deaneries as instructors in the ovulation method of NFP.
Sessions will be conducted in both English and Spanish by Wilson, who is well known throughout the world, especially in Latin America, for her advocacy for life and family values.
Working with Drs. John and Evelyn Billings, Wilson developed the Family of the Americas ovulation method, which is practiced in more than 100 countries. It is based on the simple recognition of natural signs of fertility that appear for a few days during a woman’s cycle.
The ovulation method is easy to learn, 98 to 99 percent effective in postponing pregnancy, helpful for couples struggling with infertility to conceive, strengthens marriage and gives knowledge to married couples about the wisdom of the teachings of the church.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m., at the Pastoral Center, 2718 West Woodlawn Ave., a dinner and discussion will be held on the topic, “NFP and Modern Medicine: Friends or Foes?” The event is open to all and the evening costs $15 per person.
Wilson will be the keynote speaker at the gathering. She spoke on this same subject in October at the annual education conference for the Catholic Medical Association in Baltimore. Originally from Guatemala, Wilson has been teaching and promoting the ovulation method of NFP since 1968.
Her organization, the Family of the Americas Foundation, is dedicated to defending the rights of the family in a secular world, particularly in matters of human sexuality.
She has written numerous articles, is the author of several books and has produced several educational films and videos. Wilson has received three honorary doctorate degrees and numerous awards for her work in the pro-life movement.
In 1994, she was appointed as a founding member of the Pontifical Academy for Life by Pope John Paul II. She was married to Henry Hugh Wilson, who died in 2007, and is the mother of three children and eight grandchildren.
In course offerings Feb. 6-8, Wilson will offer instruction on the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system, the reproductive cycle, observation and charting, achieving pregnancy, avoiding pregnancy in different types of cycles, basic infertile pattern, peri-menopause, comparison of the ovulation method with artificial methods of birth control, tips on teaching and presenting NFP and other NFP methods.
INTRODUCTION TO NFP
In addition to the master teacher institute training, beginning in February the NFP Office will be offering an Introduction to Natural Family Planning class.
This will be a monthly gathering held on a Wednesday evening in the archdiocesan Pastoral Center, conducted both in English and Spanish.
The purpose of these sessions will be to give a basic explanation of why NFP is in accord with the church’s teaching on responsible parenthood, as well as explain the scientific basis for NFP and its effectiveness.
This introductory class is meant to show attendees what NFP really is in hopes of dispelling some of the misunderstandings and illustrate why it is a viable option for family planning. Classes will be offered on Feb. 4, March 4, April 15, May 6, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 11, and Dec. 2.
Sessions will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and the fee is $35. For more information on the training or classes, contact the Office of Marriage and Family Life at (210) 734-1648.