Catholic family life Archives

God’s Plans and Family Planning

Interview by Anne Marie Stroud. Originally published in Family Foundations. FF: Tell us a little about how your husband Colin and you met and started out on your journey of marriage. Despite only living only an hour and a half apart, Colin and I did not meet until we were both in Florida, attending college.…

Jesus’ Sacred Body Reminds Us of the Dignity of Our Own:

Resources for Teaching Kids About Mass Written by Melissa Gorely, CCL & FSI Staff Writer Teaching our children to love Jesus present at every Holy Mass in the consecrated bread that becomes his Body not only forms them in the Catholic faith, it also reminds them of the special gift and dignity of their own…

Making Straight the Path

Written by Katie Zulanas, Executive Director. In a “post-Roe” world, we have been inspired by and are asking for the intercession of John the Baptist as we “make straight the paths” to learning and living the NFP lifestyle. From his first powerful witness, when he leapt in the womb of his mother in greeting Mary…

NFP Brought Down a Wall Between Us

Written by Teaching Couple Mitchell and Chelsea Duplantis. Originally published in Family Foundations. Chelsea: I started taking the birth control pill when I was in high school. All of my friends were on it and I was also beginning to date, so I thought it was a smart idea. I was loosely raised Catholic, but…

Overcoming Postpartum Challenges: Coaching May Be a Solution

Written by By Melissa Gorley. Adapted from a Family Foundations article by Melissa Gorley. The postpartum season is one of joys and challenges. The joy of holding that precious baby makes all the hard work worth it, but there are also challenges including charting the return to normal menstrual cycles. Coupled with a renewed respect…

Three Generations of Postpartum Perspective

Written by Mike Manhart. Originally published in Family Foundations in 2022. Our home currently shelters three generations and is providing an interesting “grandparent” perspective on postpartum. Our youngest daughter had her first child in September and her husband was deployed 10 days later. Since then, she’s been staying with us, and it has provided a…

The Hardest Job You’ll Ever Love

Written by Katie Zulanas. Originally published in Family Foundations in 2022. Oh, how true that is! Whether it refers to parenthood, or marriage, or another vocation, our life’s work, sincerely pursued, inevitably runs into suffering and sacrifice. Your true vocation will be the hardest job you’ll ever love—and despite that–it is worth it! Postpartum is…

Interview on Catholic Morning about NFP

In July, Katie Zulanas was interviewed on Archangel Radio on the LA Catholic Morning with Todd Sylvester and Ellen Taylor. They touched on NFP, the world today and new resources for spanish speaking couples. Click on the link below to watch and listen to the 10 minute interview.

CCL Teaching Couple Shares On-Air

This past summer, the Archdiocese of Atlanta held their annual Eucharistic Congress. Longtime teaching couple, Chris and Carrie Borgerding, organized a CCL booth and spoke with participants over the weekend about NFP and fertility awareness. EWTN radio caught up with Carrie and Chris at the congress to interview them about NFP, their story and the…

Preparing for Postpartum

Written by Monica Mattuissi. Originally published in Family Foundations in 2022. Recently, when praying the Rosary, I was meditating on the second joyful mystery of the Visitation, when Mary makes a journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth. I was struck by Mary’s eagerness to visit her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, as any woman who has been…