Denver Catholic

11 DENVER CATHOLIC | JULY 22-AUGUST 11, 2017 THANK YOU IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY DEACONS Rev. Mr. Taylor Elder Rev. Mr. Jerome Durnford Rev. Mr. Louis Arambula Rev. Mr. Paul Louderman IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." - ACTS 7:55-56 from the Clergy, Staff and Parishioners of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Deacon Bob FINAN Deacon Rob RINNE With great appreciation to "This is an aspect of women's health- care that's a really critical piece of knowl- edge, and it shouldn't be this weird add-on that you learned about during your marriage prep, but that it's an ongo- ing, essential part of what it means to be human and what it means to be living out a married vocation," Uebbing added. WHERE TO GO FOR HELP If you're struggling in using NFP, first know that you're not alone. Second, reach out. One great help to those seek- ing support in NFP is other married couples, said Uebbing. "I think every couple [should find] one other married couple, even if it's not locally. Find at least one other person or couple to talk frankly with," Ueb- bing said. "I think people are afraid to be too real, but it doesn't do anybody any favors to pretend that it's super easy and super beautiful. They need to know people struggle with this and make huge sacrifices for it, and it's worth it." If you're struggling with the ins and outs of your fertility, Uebbing sug- gests making the investment to get an instructor or doctor you can work with regularly. "I think because the internet exists, there's no reason you can't find an instructor. You don't need someone to sit down with you in person, you can do everything over Skype or over the phone," Uebbing said. "There are increasingly more NFP-trained physi- cians, so for people with harder cases, I just can't underestimate finding a doctor who can do those blood draws. Even if it's long distance and you go to the lab and they're analyzing your stu› once a year — what's more important than your health and the health of your marriage?" Some advice from the Oce of Evangelization and Family Life Ministries • Keep working with a NFP teacher/teaching couple. Your fertility can change over time and you may need a refresher. Call our o§ce at 303-715-3252, we have a list of teachers and would be happy to connect you. • Find a supportive doctor. We have a list of NFP-only doctors on our website – archden.org/nfp. Bella Natural Women's Care and Marisol Health are great places to start, and they work with low income or no insurance. • Not all NFP methods have the same approach. If you are struggling with your current method, try another one. Don't give up. Need advice? Call our o§ce. • Be patient with yourself. Learning a method of NFP can take some time. If you are struggling to interpret your chart, don't get discouraged. Know that extra time may be needed to work things through. • Not all NFP teachers are created equal. If you have a challenging chart, you may want to get a second opinion from another teacher. • Keep expanding your knowledge of NFP and the Church's teaching. There are lots of great books out there that e©ectively explain the Church's teaching surrounding marriage and sexuality. Keep growing. • Don't wait until you are in crisis to seek help. If you are struggling, please reach out. Contact your teacher/ teaching couple. If you don't know where to start, call our o§ce. We're happy to provide resources or ideas. • Connect with an online NFP community. Sometimes couples can feel alone in their decision to use NFP. It's a great way to find like-minded people who can identify with you and provide advice, resources and encouragement. • Attend a marriage enrichment retreat. Because NFP increases communication between the couple, it can also surface some of the deeper issues couples face in their marriage. Be intentional and schedule time as a couple to work on strengthening your relationship— regular date nights or retreats. For more resources on what the Church teaches about NFP, visit Jenny's blog at catholic- newsagency.com/ mamaneedsco©ee/. For resources on NFP in the Archdiocese of Denver, visit archden.org/eflm/nfp. The o˜ce of Evangeli- zation and Family Life Ministries is also hosting an event for NFP families on Saturday, Aug. 5 with a vigil Mass at 4 p.m., followed by a picnic and lawn games at the John Paul II Center. Call 303-715-3252 to RSVP. Read full story online at denvercatholic.org. i Jenny Ueb- bing and her husband, Dave, use Natural Family Planning (NFP) as their family plan- ning method. While being trained in NFP is required for all cou- ples getting married in the Archdiocese of Denver, many married couples expe- rience a lack of support and resources after the fact. PHOTO BY AARON LAMBERT

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