Natural Family Planning

Learning to attain or postpone pregnancy in harmony with God’s plan through fertility awareness enriches marriages, strengthens faith, dramatically lowers divorce rates, and helps women avoid health risks associated with contraceptives.
NFP reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, and recognizes the value of the child. By respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife.

(Standards for Diocesan Natural Family Planning Ministry, p. 23)

NFP is a mandatory requirement, in the Diocese of Amarillo  for couples seeking the sacrament of matrimony. Certified NFP instructors are teaching classes in both Spanish and English. Learn a highly effective method of postponing or achieving pregnancy that works entirely in harmony with your body. The NFP program of the Diocese of Amarillo is endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as being in compliance with the Standards for Diocesan Natural Family Planning Ministry.

Used with permission from the NFP Program, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved.

                             DOWNLOADABLE SCHEDULE AVAILABLE UNDER DOCUMENTS 

 
November 2021
Nov 6, Saturday 1:00 pm Marquette Method $60 at Diocesan Pastoral Center 4512 NE 24^th Ave /Ama.
English​ - Faye Usala C: 806-683-5561  fayeobrienusala@gmail.com

ONLINE SYMPTO-THERMAL Self-paced NFP Class, English and as of January 2021 Spanish, ​ ​cost is $135, access it at ​www.ccli.org​.  Starting September 2021, the online self-paced class will take approximately two months (minimum 6 weeks) to complete. Please keep that in mind when preparing to meet the requirements for marriage in the Church.  If you have questions please contact Chrissy Acker 806-654-2057.
 
Natural Family Planning methods have theoretical efficacy rates of 97-99+ percent.  NFP is useful for both achieving and avoiding pregnancy.  The fee for the in-class Marquette and the Sympto-Thermal Method is $60. The fee for the Spanish Ovulation Method class is $25, or $50 if the Spanish class book is requested.  All class materials are provided at the first class.  The Marquette Method first month’s hormone monitoring kit will be about $30 available locally or online if the couple intends to use the methodology, but should not be purchased until after the class.  Payment must be cash or check if paid at the class, and the check should be made out to the Diocese of Amarillo. No credit card payment can be done at the class.  Payment by credit card may be done through the Diocesan website​, ​ amarillodiocese.org/nfp​. The Family Life Ministry Office will notify the appropriate instructor that payment has been received if a credit card payment is made.  Some parishes pay all or part of the fees and couples may inquire about fees from their marriage preparer.  If the couple cannot afford the fee, it will be reduced or waived.
Registration​ ​should be done when preparation begins six months before marriage.  All Diocesan marriage preparers have current schedules and the schedule is posted on the Amarillo Diocese website and periodically in the West Texas Catholic newspaper.  A pre-registration form is included in the marriage preparation packet. Class registration is required at least one week before the class to allow for the required teaching materials to be gathered or preferably as soon as the wedding date is set. Registration is done through the individual teachers (phone numbers listed) or Faye Usala (Voice or text: 806-683-5561) or ​fayeobrienusala@gmail.com.
 
Additional classes may be added to the schedule at a future date. Cancellations or date changes of classes are occasionally necessary to accommodate scheduling conflicts which arise. All marriage preparers will be notified promptly of schedule changes. The teachers are willing to speak about NFP at Mass, group sessions, altar societies, guilds, or circles please contact Dr. Faye Usala.