DOT Family Life

REMINDER TO REGISTER for the Convocation of Parish Pastoral Councils, Parish Staff and Synod Teams!!!
www.dioceseoftrenton.org/PPC-Convocation
You won't want to miss the program we have prepared for you!
Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 9 am to 3 pm at St. Raphael Church in Hamilton, NJ...easy access from I-195, I-295, NJ Turnpike, State Route130, State Route 206, and local roads in Mercer County

Today the Church celebrates the life of Pope St. Gregory the Great. He reinvigorated missionary activities, reformed the clergy, and is responsible for the location of the Our Father at Mass. He also left for us advice on a healthy marriage. What can we learn from a Pope who died over 1400 years ago - you'll have to read the article to find out!

St. Gregory the Great’s advice for married couples Gregory shows how any marriage can be happier and become a source of comfort and encouragement as we make our way to the next life.

For a brief history on the development of this dogma, the text of the Pope's decree promulgating August 15th as the date for this Solemnity, and prayers, check out this article:

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Vatican News Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Vatican News

While a relatively "new" dogma, declared by Pope Pius XII in 1950, the Assumption is something held by the Church since antiquity. While an ancient belief, there is still some confusion as to what we celebrate today - to help clear the air, check out this video.

Mary: The Assumption Ascension Presents continues its study on Mary through the month of May in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre of Saint Mary, the traditional spot of her assump...

On this Solemnity, let us pause midday and seek the Blessed Mother's intercession through the praying of the Angelus:

The Angelus - Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Savior The hymn, The Angelus, is sung by the Daughters of Mary in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary (with Latin and English translations). This and other songs in h...

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In celebrating this, we look forward to the promise God has made to those who love and follow Him, that we will enter into eternal life, and that at the end of time, our body and soul will reunite. Mary, being free from sin, did not experience death, but rather as a privileged grace, was assumed body and soul into heaven.

As we near the middle of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, did you know that the NJ Department of Health has an entire page dedicated to Breastfeeding Promotion and Support? Here you can find a plethora of resources and information, including WIC! Also, since 1997, it is illegal for a woman to be denied the right to breastfeed in a public place in the State of New Jersey.

Department of Health | WIC | Breastfeeding Promotion & Support BreBreastfeeding Promotion Support

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. For centuries, Catholics in the United States have had a special devotion to Our Lady of La Leche - Our Lady of the Milk. The devotion focuses on the tender care of Mary as she nursed the infant child and is particularly strong in the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida.

As this month kicks off, we invite you to pray for all mothers, especially nursing mothers:

Lovely Lady of La Leche, most loving Mother of Jesus, and my mother, listen to my
humble prayer. Your motherly heart knows my every wish, my every need. To you only, His spotless Virgin Mother, has your Divine Son given to understand the sentiments which fill my soul. Yours was the sacred privilege of being the Mother of the Savior. Intercede with Him now, my loving mother, that in accordance with His will (mention your request here).

This I ask, O Lady of La Leche, in the name of your Divine Son, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

V. O Mary, conceived without sin.
R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.

Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us.

"Dr. Marguerite Duane, a board-certified family physician, spoke with OSV News' Charlie Camosy about her work as co-founder & executive director of 'FACTS about Fertility', an organization dedicated to educating medical professionals and students about the scientific evidence supporting fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs).
For more info about NFP in the DIocese of Trenton, visit: https://dioceseoftrenton.org/natural-family-planning

One Catholic physician's journey to becoming a Natural Family Planning advocate Amid the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Natural Family Planning Awareness Week

Whether you are hoping to concieve a child some day, struggling to concieve or just want to know more about the Catholic teachings on infertility and artificial reproductive technologoes, like IVF, we invite you to SAVE THE DATE and join us on October 26! Full registration information availbel in mid-August.

IVF has returned to the news with the upcoming election cycle and bills across the nation have been proposed to safeguard access to this procedure. How are we, as Catholics, to approach this issue? In brief, "Donum Vitae teaches that if a given medical intervention helps or assists the marriage act to achieve pregnancy, it may be considered moral; if the intervention replaces the marriage act in order to engender life, it is not moral."

Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology by John M. Haas, Ph.D., S.T.L. In IVF, children are engendered through a technical process, subjected to "quality control," and eliminated if found "defectiv...

What about IVF and other means of starting - or growing - a family? "Surely, if God didn't want us to use the means, He wouldn't have given them to us, right?" FALSE! Just because we are able to do something, doesn't mean we should or that it is right. The ends do not justify the means. It is important to remember the twofold purpose of s*x: to be unitive and procreative.

Catholic teaching on IVF What is the Catholic Church's teaching on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)? Really, it's the other side of it's teaching on contraception, which is this: s*x and...

Today is the last day of Natural Family Planning Week!

Day 7 of Saints for the Hard Parts of NFP, highlighting various Saints (and those on the way) who can relate to some of the various struggles associated with family life. We rejoice in knowing that the crosses we carry are not the end, but the means by which we are sanctified.

Another perspective on the sacrifice imbedded in NFP. "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (Jn. 15: 13). It may be difficult, but it is not impossible. God's grace prevails!

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12: 9)

I Hate NFP (But Need it Anyway) - The Catholic Gentleman Have you ever noticed how NFP (Natural Family Planning for the uninitiated) is marketed? It’s sold with glossy photos of couples holding hands and dancing in flower-filled meadows, their faces plastered with blissful grins. It will make you so much more intimate! It will change your life! You’ll...

Today the Church celebrates the lives of two Saints - Anne and Joachim - Mary's parents; Jesus' grandparents. While scripture remains silent on their names and life, tradition tells us their story. Anne and Joachim were married but were childless until they were advanced in age, finding hope and consolation in Abraham and Sarah. According to tradition, an angel appeared to Anne and foretold of the splendor of the child they would have (Mary). Mary was conceived without original sin and would give birth "the Word made flesh" (Jn. 1: 14), blessing Anne and Joachim even more abundantly than Abraham and Sarah.

Today, in a special way, the Church recognizes and celebrates grandparents. We invite you to share the names or photos of your grandparents as we pray for them:

Lord God almighty, bless our grandparents with long life, happiness, and health.
May they remain constant in your love and be living signs of your presence to their children and grandchildren. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sts. Anne and Joachim Saint of the day: Sts. Anne and Joachim - Catholic News Agency

In a follow up from Tuesday's video, Bobby returns to share what he "hates" about NFP. Christ invites us to pick up our crosses and follow Him (Mt. 16; 24). NFP helps us to grow in virtue and mastery of self. Will there be crosses, most assuredly, but this is the means by which we are sanctified.

Why We Hate Natural Family Planning Bobby hates natural family planning because it requires self-mastery and dying to self. While it sounds great in the idealistic sense, living it out is a who...

It is Natural Family Planning Week!

Day 6 of Saints for the Hard Parts of NFP, highlighting various Saints (and those on the way) who can relate to some of the various struggles associated with family life. We rejoice in knowing that the crosses we carry are not the end, but the means by which we are sanctified.

Whatever your life looks like, God has a plan for you. Here, Jennifer Fulwier shares about her conversion to Catholicism, acceptance of NFP, and sharing the less "glamorous" aspects of her family life. Stay tuned to the end for a reflection on the life of St. Frances of Rome and a beautiful reflection on marriage.

Jennifer Fulwiler on NFP, Authentic Social Media, & Catholicism Jennifer Fulwiler, author of “One Beautiful Dream”, shares how being Catholic helps her embrace marriage and motherhood – from practicing NFP to showing off ...

Isn't NFP just "Catholic Contraception?"

In short, "NO!" NFP respects God's design of the human person and acts according to His plan while contraceptives seek to remove God's plan and implement one of our own design.

Why NFP Is NOT Contraception Humanae Vitae teaches that ... Neither the Church nor her doctrine is inconsistent when she considers it lawful for married people to take advantage of the i...

It is Natural Family Planning Week!

Day 5 of Saints for the Hard Parts of NFP, highlighting various Saints (and those on the way) who can relate to some of the various struggles associated with family life. We rejoice in knowing that the crosses we carry are not the end, but the means by which we are sanctified.

Infertility does not lessen the sanctity of marriage. Marriage is fruitful when it is "open to others, to the needs of the apostolate ... the needs of the poor...the needs of orphans" and to the world." (St. John Paul II, Homily, 1982; quoted in Married Love and the Gift of Life).

Infertility Though the fig tree does not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food . . . yet I will rejoice in...

We want to recognize those who carry the cross of infertility, who desire to be a mother or father but have not yet received this grace. We see you, and you are not alone. Springs in the Desert is a Catholic Companion on this journey. Their website, springsinthedesert.org provides a number of resources, and are offering an in person retreat in Baltimore in October.

Springs in the Desert | Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility Infertility can be a heavy and painful cross to carry, but we believe that healing can be found in community with others who are walking this same path. Spri...

It is Natural Family Planning Week!

Day 4 of Saints for the Hard Parts of NFP, highlighting various Saints (and those on the way) who can relate to some of the various struggles associated with family life. We rejoice in knowing that the crosses we carry are not the end, but the means by which we are sanctified.

NFP isn't always easy, but it is a blessing and liberating. Here, Jackie and Bobby Angel share about their experiences and what they love about the practice.

Why We Love Natural Family Planning Following up on their first two videos in this series, which cover the pill and contraception, Jackie and Bobby discuss the benefits and the beauty of natura...

A method of health care exists that looks holistically at the female body as God has designed it. For many, birth control pills may be a regular part of their routine - even if they are not s*xually active - because it has been prescribed by their doctor. There is a better way!

NAPRO: A Quiet Revolution Visit: http://dominicanfriars.orgThis groundbreaking documentary seeks to inform women of a natural alternative to mainstream women’s healthcare. The film ta...

It is Natural Family Planning Week!

Day 3 of Saints for the Hard Parts of NFP, highlighting various Saints (and those on the way) who can relate to some of the various struggles associated with family life. We rejoice in knowing that the crosses we carry are not the end, but the means by which we are sanctified.

Do we trust God, our spouse, or ourselves, or do we seek control? In addition to learning about God's intricate design of human biology, NFP can help us learn how much we trust and how much we desire control.

Finding Freedom Through Natural Family Planning It was a moment of truth — either I really trusted in God or I didn’t. There was no middle-ground. I had to choose.

NFP is not "the rhythm method" of previous generations. It isn't some "new age hippy dippy" philosophy, but a scientific and sound method for family planning, vastly underutilized and underappreciated. Each and every person is unique, made in God's image and likeness. NFP sees the individual and works with her and her spouse to better understand God's incredible design. It is not a one-size fits all approach to health and fertility.

The Science & Theology Behind Natural Family Planning | EWTN News In Depth The science and theology behind Natural Family Planning. Catherine Hadro explains.------------Hosted by Montse Alvarado, EWTN News In Depth welcomes guests i...

Natural Family Planning Week has begun!

Day 2 of Saints for the Hard Parts of NFP, highlighting various Saints (and those on the way) who can relate to some of the various struggles associated with family life. We rejoice in knowing that the crosses we carry are not the end, but the means by which we are sanctified.