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U.S. bishops' Natural Family Planning Awareness Week campaign begins

July 20, 2026 · 1 min read

“Designed by God, Guided by Love, Open to Life” is the theme of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) 2026 Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week campaign.

The bishops' annual NFP campaign, taking place July 19-25, highlights God’s design for married love, the gift of life, and the Church’s teaching on NFP methods.

To educate people on the matter, the NFP Program of the USCCB develops a poster each year with supportive materials to be displayed in parishes, hospitals, NFP classrooms, marriage preparation sites, doctors' offices, family life centers, and campus ministry centers.

In 1981, the Catholic Church in the U.S. worked to strengthen efforts to make NFP and Church teaching more widely known and used. To further the mission, the bishops’ conference established the NFP Program.

The program, which is a part of the USCCB’s Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, releases resources for dioceses and organizations to use including the posters, homily notes, social media files, and ideas for celebrating and promoting NFP.

The campaign encourages parishes to provide introductory sessions on the science and ethics of NFP…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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თამარ დოლიძე

It is good that they organize such a campaign, especially that they also prepare posters for churches and medical institutions. Here in Georgia, they don't talk much about it, but the theme "created by God, guided by love, open to life" is very correct.

Κώστας Θεοδώρου

It is good that they put such topics on posters and distribute them in parishes and hospitals. In our Greece, we also don't talk about it much, when we should. "Designed by God, Guided by Love, Open to Life" sounds simple and right to me, as if it says exactly what the Church teaches.

Thomas Hall

Our parish in Pittsburgh put up one of those USCCB posters a couple years back near the crying room and a few young couples actually asked about the classes after Mass. The theme “Designed by God, Guided by Love, Open to Life” is straightforward and true. Nice to see the bishops keep at it every July.

Elena Lungu

It's good that they make posters and concrete materials for parishes and medical offices. Here in Sibiu, we rarely talk about natural family planning, but the theme "Designed by God, Guided by Love, Open to Life" is clear and goes straight to what the Church teaches us. Maybe it would be good to try to bring such a discussion to our choir or wedding preparation.

Radu Constantinescu

Well said, Elena. This theme "Designed by God, Guided by Love, Open to Life" really goes straight to the point, no detours. Here in Iași, during the preparation for the wedding, the priest mentioned NFP last year, but few young people came with concrete questions. Do you think that a poster placed next to the icon of the Mother of God would help to talk more often?

Gheorghe Munteanu

Yes, Radu, the poster next to the icon of the Mother of God could attract attention, especially if it is a clear one, with this theme "Designed by God, Guided by Love, Open to Life". Here in Constanța, at a wedding preparation session, we saw that young people listen better when it is practically explained to them how the method works, not just theory. Do you think a short Q&A evening after the service with a doctor or an older couple who has used NFP would work?

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მაია ჩხეიძე

Tamar, I completely agree with you that the topic is very valid. In many of our churches in Batumi, it is rarely talked about, although I have seen it mentioned at least briefly in marriage preparation courses. Have you seen such a poster in any medical center in our area?

Κατερίνα Λαμπροπούλου

I agree, Kostas, the slogan is simple and gets the point across without any frills. In Larissa, we distributed such pamphlets at the family support center last year, and people came who didn't even know what the natural method was. Have you seen something similar happening in your parish?

თორნიკე კვარაცხელია

No, Maya, I have never seen such a poster in any medical center. Marriage courses are indeed briefly mentioned, but often only at the level of "don't have an abortion". It would be good if a really useful material on this topic would be posted in a clinic or at least one church in Batumi.

მარიამ მამულაშვილი

Tamar, it's true, they rarely talk about it in churches in Batumi. I once saw a similar poster in a maternity hospital in Kutaisi, but only a year passed and it disappeared. Have you used any NFP methods in your family?

Yes, Radu, that poster with "Designed by God, Guided by Love, Open to Life" next to the icon of the Mother of God could make young people stop for a moment. Here in Sibiu, after a wedding preparation session, a girl specifically asked me how that cycle looks on paper, that she didn't understand anything the priest was saying. Do you think it would be a good idea to put a small leaflet next to it with a phone number of a couple who practice NFP?

Viorica Lungu

Yes, Elena, the idea with the small leaflet next to the poster is good, especially since that girl from Sibiu was left with concrete questions after the wedding preparations. I would also add a simple hand-drawn calendar, like I do when I bake for the grandchildren, so they can see the days clearly. Do you have the number of that couple practicing NFP or should I ask at the family center in the parish?

Marius Marin

Yes, Gheorghe, that poster next to the icon would fit well, especially with this clear theme. Here, in Timișoara, we once spoke with a couple who have been using the method for many years and they said that it helped them a lot to understand the natural rhythm of their wife, not just the rules. Do you think it would be better to invite a family doctor from the parish or a couple from Constanța who attended that training session?