Fides Media Living the Faith
By Chioma Ndife
About 23 individuals have been commissioned to facilitate the teaching of Billings Method of Natural Family Planning (NFP) across Parishes in Awka Catholic Diocese by the Diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor.
Bishop Ezeokafor commissioned the instructors of Billing Method of Natural Family Planning (NFP) on Sunday, 8th September, 2019 at All Saints Catholic Church, Awgbu, Orumba North LGA, Anambra State during his pastoral activities at the parish.
Fides gathered that the instructors were commissioned after undergoing 6 weeks intensive training at the Fides School of Theology in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka under the eagle eyes of the Director of Awka Diocesan Family and Human Life Unit, Very Rev. Msgr. Jerome Madueke and an instructor, Lady Rose Ekwenibe.
The recent commissioning of 23 instructors has brought the number of instructors commissioned to propagate the vision of human sexuality and method of birth regulation in accordance with God’s plan to 235 in Awka Diocese.
Commissioning the instructors, Bishop Ezeokafor, highlighted the benefits which couples stand to gain by adopting the billings method and charged Catholic faithful to desist from using the artificial method of birth control as it contradicts the teaching and belief of the Catholic Church.
Earlier in his homily, Bishop Ezeokafor emphasized on the need of NFP courses for responsible parenthood which fully cooperates with God, while taking into account of physical, economic, psychological and social conditions in the task of transmitting human life.
He urged every married adult and those preparing for family life to avail themselves the knowledge of billings method in order to gain awareness of the NFP and develop respect for female human biological process. He disclosed that couples who use the natural family method proactively reduce marital conflict, as well as forestalling the evil of abortion and contraceptives.
Speaking to Fides, Director of Family and Human life Unit in Awka Diocese, Msgr. Jerome Madueke, explained that the commissioned instructors were expected to start work in no distant period, collaborating with pre-marriage course instructors in their various parishes while extending the training to parents and youths. He maintained that billings method was inexpensive, easy to learn and can be used by all. He pinpointed the numerous benefits which can be learned from the method, noting that it could be used to achieve or avoid pregnancy, following the normal physiology of menstrual cycle.
The Director of Family and Human Life Unit further stated that the method enables couples to preselect the sex of their babies and was known to improve interpersonal relations, harmony and mutual respect between husband and wife.
He stated that the Billings Method was 99 percent effective if the knowledge of fertility awareness was gained and records kept accurately.