Church Uses Old and New for Rising again - Diocese of Antigonish

The Atlantic Catholic — May 29, 2010National NewsPage 11WOOMB Canada Celebrates 30 YearsMay 15, a Mass of thanksgivingwas offered at the Seneca CollegeConvention Centre in King City,Ont., to mark the 30th Anniversaryof WOOMB Canada (WorldOrganization of the OvulationMethod Billings). During a banquetfollowing Mass participantslearned that Pope Benedict XVIhad honoured WOOMB Canadawith an Apostolic Blessing “incommemoration and recognitionof its invaluable work in assistingcouples over the past 30 years.”Founding member and nationalspiritual advisor Father JosephHattie, OMI, described how,under the auspices of WOOMBInternational in Australia, WOOMBCanada was started by a merehandful of pioneers. A registeredcharity existing on donations andsustained mainly by prayer andtrust, WOOMB has trained scoresof dedicated teachers and enhancedthe lives of thousands of Canadianfamilies.In the 1950s, the late Dr. JohnBillings urged by his parish priest,and later aided by his wife Dr. Lynand other colleagues, began workingto develop a totally natural way toachieve or postpone pregnancy.They had a particular desire to helpfamilies, and a special concern forfamilies in poor and developingcountries.The resulting Billings OvulationMethod (BOM) of Natural FamilyPlanning, is now supported by over50 years of scientific research byleading doctors in reproductivehealth, thousands of women, andscores of studies. The method isrecognized by the World HealthOrganization as over 99 percenteffective in postponing pregnancy.It is also highly effective inachieving pregnancy among thoseseeking that result as well as widelycredited with enhancing couplerelationships and contributing todomestic harmony.These good effects are asachievable among illiterates andthe poor, as among the affluent andhighly literate.“In Canada, we work throughestablished groups committedto teaching and promoting theauthentic Billings method,” explainsNova Scotians Ray and Janice Hodgson were joined by Fr. Joseph Hattieat the World Organization of the Ovulation Method Billings Canada meetingsheld in Ontario earlier this month. (Submitted photo)instructor and registered nurse AnnMurray of Kingston.Responding to increasingrequests for service, WOOMBCanada continues efforts to ensurethat fully trained, accredited andexperienced teachers will beavailable in every province. Sixprovinces already have activeprovincial associations and othersare in development.The dedicated men and womenwho teach the BOM are highlymotivated.“We are leaders in fertilityeducation, assisting women andcouples all across the country tobuild a culture of life,” NationalPresident Doreen Beagan said.Despite the modern fixation onsexual matters and sex education,there is widespread “fertilityilliteracy,” prompting Calgarysenior instructor Cathy Perri todescribe herself as a FertilityAwareness Educator.Louise Dione of Maple Ridge,BC added, “I love that it bothnourishes maternal health, andteaches respect and reverence forthe gifts of sexuality and fertility.”Rose Heron, Chair of WOOMB’sNational Education Committee isconvinced that BOM is the thingof the future. The young men sheencounters seem to agree. They ask“if this has no side effects and is aseffective as the Pill, why aren’t theyteaching us about it,” Heron said.The Billings Method, alreadyin use when Humanae Vitae wasreleased, is totally in harmony withthe Church teachings containedtherein, and demonstrates that it isentirely possible to live in harmonywith those teachings.But the method is not just forCatholics.Lyn Billings explains thatwomen the world over are entitledto accurate biological knowledgeof the way their bodies function,so they can learn to recognizeand interpret their patterns offertility. Couples everywhere canuse this information to enhancetheir conjugal love and to practiceresponsible parenthood, as theirconviction and circumstancesdictate. It is information meant foreveryone.National board meetings andthe annual general meeting alsotook place on the weekend. Theywere preceded by a two-daymeeting of the education committeewhich oversees the training andaccreditation of teachers inline with exacting internationalstandards developed to ensure thatthey understand and accuratelyimpart the pertinent applicationsof ongoing scientific research onhuman fertility.Also during the weekend,certificates of appreciation werepresented to WOOMB Canada’sfounders and the organization,already under the protection ofSt. Michael and St. Gianna, wasformally consecrated, with all itsmembers and its work, to MaryImmaculate.Participants from eastern Canadawere National President DoreenBeagan of Charlottetown; DirectorsRaymond and Janice Hodgsonof Churchville, NS; and NationalSpiritual Advisor Father JosephHattie, OMI, of the ArchdiocesanOffice of Marriage preparation andFamily Life in Halifax.29144 5-29/6-12