Community - NFP

In 1987 The Maronite Natural Family office was established by Fr Michael Kayrouz to introduce a program within the Marriage Preparation Course which addressed the control of a couple's fertility and method of planning for a family.

Mrs Odette Younane, whose commitment and witness to the sanctity of marriage and children ensured the success of the program against many setbacks. Mrs Younane's was appointed as the Maronite Diocesan coordinator of NFP Services.

The service is offered at Our Lady of Lebanon, Harris Park and at St Charbel's, Punchbowl. There is much work yet to be done and many more programs along with the Pre-Marriage, Women's Health, Menopause and Personal Development, in the planning. Without the support and guidance of the Australian Catholic Natural Family Planning Services, in training the teachers; Mrs Odette Younane, Mrs Georgette Abdallah, Mrs Carla Geracitano and Mrs Rose George, the Maronite NFP Services could not have been established.

We, the Lebanese people, have always been careful about our heritage and tried to preserve our traditions in a protective way as parents would protect and uphold the dignity of their family. In our new homeland, Australia, we have the opportunity to forge ahead and carve a niche that we can be truly proud of. When you look into the wider community you will always find someone of Lebanese heritage who is contributing to the growth and prosperity of our country, Australia, and whose family line can be traced back to many generations. It is this concept of family that the Lebanese people offer and in order to preserve this ethos Natural Family Planning offers a way of life that engenders joint responsibility and mutual cooperation in the family way of life.

For more information please contact the Natural Family Planning Office on 9891 2671.