(May 14, 2009) Frank and Jennifer had five children and used contraception without giving it a second thought - until something changed their lives.

Jennifer, who with her husband are practicing Catholics from the Cleveland area, recalled telling a friend that Frank would do well to get a vasectomy for her birthday. “The fact that I so easily thought of sterilization got me thinking - how could I, we, decide to do something so major without talking about it and praying?”

Jennifer, who had used the birth control pill, wondered why she was not open to having another child. “I found myself offering simple prayers asking God to help us. It was the first time that I had asked God for guidance regarding our fertility.”

That event became a turning point in realizing that they should bring their sexuality in line with the Church’s moral teachings. They signed up for a class in natural family planning (NFP). “We began to realize that all of our reasons for avoiding pregnancy were ‘earthly’ - we would need a new car, a bigger house, and more money for everything.”

Today she says that their sexual union should be focused on giving rather than getting. “NFP provided the environment to live this out,” she said. (Read the full story, “Signs of Grace,” at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.)

Classes in the Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning can be learned at 15 locations in the Chicagoland area. The next class will begin Sun., May 17 at Holy Family Church in Westmont. Email Chris & Debbie Lillig, or call them at 630-428-3046. There will also be a class beginning Sun., June 7 at Resurrection Hospital in Chicago. Email Dave & Mona Cattapan, or call them at 847-437-3136. Go to Classes by Location.