Celebrate National NFP Week! 12 Simple Ways
National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, July 19–25, 2026, is almost here! This year’s theme from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Natural Family Planning: Designed by God. Guided by Love. Open to Life,” beautifully captures the gift that NFP offers married couples. It is rooted in God’s design for our bodies, guided by authentic love that seeks the good of one’s spouse, and always open to the possibility of new life according to His plan. (USCCB)
Whether you’ve practiced NFP for years, are newly engaged, have been married for decades, or are simply curious about what the Church teaches, NFP Week is an invitation to celebrate marriage, family, and the incredible gift of human fertility.
Natural Family Planning teaches couples to communicate, sacrifice for one another, respect the dignity of their fertility, and grow in trust that God is present in every season of marriage. Even couples who are postponing pregnancy for serious reasons discover that NFP strengthens their relationship by inviting them to make decisions together rather than relying on a device or medication.
Ways to Celebrate
Looking for ways to celebrate? Here are twelve ideas that can help build a culture where every marriage and every child is treasured.
1. Invite someone to learn more.
Know an engaged couple preparing for marriage? Have friends who are already married but have never learned about Natural Family Planning? Invite them to explore CCL’s Natural Plan introductory course. Designed for both engaged and married couples, Natural Plan offers a welcoming introduction to the science of fertility, the beauty of the Church’s teaching, and the many ways NFP can strengthen communication, deepen intimacy, and foster a lifelong openness to God’s plan for marriage and family.
2. Read Humanae Vitae.
Read four or five paragraphs each day during NFP Week. There are only 31 paragraphs, making this a wonderful opportunity to revisit the wisdom of St. Paul VI on love, marriage, and responsible parenthood.
3. Start one conversation about NFP.
You don’t need to be an expert. Simply share your experience or invite someone to learn more. One honest conversation may be exactly what another couple needs. (Need some talking points? Check out the CCL Youtube Page and share a video!)
4. Encourage your parish.
If your parish doesn’t currently offer NFP education, ask your pastor or marriage ministry leader about introducing it for engaged couples or as part of marriage enrichment. You can start by adding a bulletin announcement to your parish bulletin. Find these resources and more on MyParishNFP.
5. Learn something new.
Listen to an episode of the PeakDay podcast, read an article on the Fertility Science Institute, or watch a short video about Natural Family Planning on the PeakDay Channel. Even longtime users continue discovering new insights into God’s design for fertility.
6. Pray a Rosary for marriages and families.
Ask Our Lady to strengthen married couples, comfort those grieving miscarriage or infertility, and help every family remain open to God’s grace. Join us to pray on Saturday July 25th for a LIVE rosary.
7. Support a pro-family ministry.
Natural Family Planning changes lives because generous people make it possible for couples to receive faithful, science-based fertility education. Consider making a gift to the Couple to Couple League (CCL) or another pro-family organization that supports marriages, welcomes children as blessings, and helps couples discover God’s beautiful design for love and life.
8. Make memories with your own family.
Plan a game night, build a backyard fort, roast marshmallows over a fire pit, or camp in the backyard. Then spend some time talking together about your family’s story. Tell your children about the day they were born, the excitement of waiting for them to arrive, or even the funny moments surrounding their birth. Remind them that they were prayed for, longed for, and loved long before they took their first breath.
9. Reflect on your family’s story.
Pull out your wedding album, baby books, or old family photos and share with your kids. Thank God for the people and moments that have shaped your life together.. and thank the people that God placed in your path. Reach out to the teaching couple that taught you NFP!
10. Renew your openness to life.
Whether you’re hoping to conceive, postponing pregnancy for serious reasons, or carrying the cross of infertility, spend time praying together about God’s plan for your family. Ask Him to replace fear with trust and to guide your decisions with peace.
11. Support a married couple.
Offer to babysit so they can enjoy a much-needed date night. Strong marriages build strong families. A hot meal for parents of a new baby is a simple way to remind exhausted moms and dads that they are loved and supported.
12. Volunteer at a pro-life pregnancy center.
Offer a few hours of your time serving mothers, fathers, and babies who need encouragement and practical support.
National NFP Week is about celebrating God’s loving design for marriage and family. Every act of generosity—whether serving a young family, praying for married couples, sharing your story, or spending intentional time with your own loved ones—helps build a culture where every marriage is strengthened and every human life is welcomed as a precious gift.
How will your family celebrate National NFP Week this year?
Written by Martha Haenni, CCL Content Editor, PeakDay Podcast host, and Family Foundations Assistant Editor. MyParishNFP has resources for Clergy, Parishes and Couples to learn about and promote NFP.