Follow Me Say 'yes' to God's plan for married love   By Bishop Terry R. LaValley

July 19, 2017

By Bishop Terry R. LaValley

“It’s Time!  Say ‘Yes’ to God’s Plan for Married Love.” The theme for this year’s National NFP Awareness Week (July 23–29) challenges us to embrace God’s beautiful plan for marriage.

It’s time!

It’s time that we reacquaint ourselves with God’s design for marriage that has been revealed to us in the Scriptures and Church teaching.

It’s time that we, as parish families, married couples and as individuals, recommit ourselves to teaching our youth the beauty of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

It’s time to look critically at what society is telling us about love, marriage, and sex in light of God’s law of love.  Yes, we know it’s time.

In fact, that is one of the reasons why we have chosen Strengthening Faith Formation in Family Life as an important diocesan priority, particularly through family catechesis.  It’s time!

We need to reclaim our rich faith heritage concerning the Sacrament of Marriage and God’s loving plan for husband, wife and children.  It’s time to support and embrace the precious gift of the family.

Whenever we try to bring God into the public square, we are often scolded for “imposing” our beliefs, our individual morality on others. 

More and more, expressing concern for the common good and any discussion of right and wrong bring a negative response. 

It’s Time!  Say ‘Yes’ to God’s Plan for Married Love.

In their pastoral letter, Marriage:  Love and Life in the Divine Plan, the U.S. Bishops write that “God’s plan for marriage is a firm foundation, a truthful guide, a trustworthy light for the way.” 

So, we continue to preach the truth about marriage and responsible parenthood.  It remains a trustworthy light for our world, darkened by sin and self-gratification, by fostering faithful and generous life-giving spousal love.
This week, the Church engages in a national educational campaign on the gift of Natural Family Planning. NFP is about giving oneself freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully to another person in marriage. 

To many, such a commitment seems nearly impossible today.  To make oneself totally vulnerable, to sacrifice for the love of another is the heroism of the marital vocation.  Such a self-less witness for life is a tangible sign of hope.

Please visit our NFP office at our diocesan website: www.rcdony.org to learn more about this important element of the Church’s teaching on marriage.

We are truly blessed to have Suzanne and Angelo Pietropaoli serve as our diocesan directors of Natural Family Planning.

Please contact them at the NFP office at 518-483-0459 or via email at apietropaoli@rcdony.org for more information or assistance in this important ministry that makes for stronger marriages and healthy, happier families.