What CANFP Means to Me: Networking, Resources, and Information

Our parish held a Ministry Fair, and I hosted a booth for Natural Family Planning. I am the only NFP teacher in our parish, so I invited other NFP teachers, known to me through CANFP, to join me at the fair. We had a great time! It was a wonderful time of bonding and renewing energy and enthusiasm for teaching NFP. Our joy at being together illustrates the first point listed above about what CANFP means to me, which is networking. It’s so important to me to know that I am not alone in what I am doing, and that there are others I can go to with questions and concerns. CANFP provides me not only with support from local NFP teachers, but with a connection to teachers, doctors, and nurses all over the state! Not only have the CANFP doctors and nurses been of immense help to me in my practice as an NFP teacher, but  they have also been of great benefit to our family with advice and medical help with reproductive problems for my own children.

The second point of support from CANFP is the amazing variety of printed material and other resources which have been made available through my membership in CANFP. I am currently working with my Confirmation students using the Theology of the Body Program which I was able to purchase at the CANFP statewide conference in San Bernardino. I can’t think of anywhere else I would have gone where I would have been exposed to such a beautiful and valuable resource. During the Parish Ministry Fair I had the DVD constantly running at our booth and it attracted many teens to come over and watch for awhile. We had much printed material to hand out at our Ministry Fair booth procured through CANFP, and it was such a valuable thing to not only be able to talk to people but also to put something in their hand to enhance their knowledge and understanding of NFP.

Lastly, the third point of support available through CANFP is the invaluable information made available chiefly through the newsletter. Over the years I have been able to find out about training sessions being planned and progress in the NFP world toward getting the word out to more people. I have been kept up to date about developments with the USCCB and how they affect my work. The “Ask the Expert” column, in the newsletter and on the website, has been an amazing resource for me. And of course, I can’t say enough about the wonderful conferences I have been able to attend over the years. The information provided through the fantastic speakers has formed who I am as an NFP teacher, parent, wife, and schoolteacher.

CANFP – I salute you! You’re the best!