Celebrating the Joys of Being a Girl

By Pam Flynn

Managing Editor

More than 200 mothers and daughters attended the March 9 Mother Daughter program for 10-12-year-old girls held at St. Francis Hospital. The annual programs are presented by the Diocese of Memphis Natural Family Planning Center (NFP), organized by Mary Pat Van Epps, Director of Natural Family Planning.

The afternoon included discussions for moms and their daughters on topics such as the beauty and wonder of God's plan for growing up, the changes of early adolescence and puberty and the functions of the fertility cycle. The program is designed to help parents and children communicate better with each other about morality and God's gifts of sexuality, fertility, love and marriage.

"There is no way to ever thank all the volunteer women who come and work so hard all day to set up everything for the programs, serve the food, clean up and take everything down again," said Van Epps. "The NFP volunteer give their time to work and to be presenters at the programs, and we are forever grateful to them for their dedication and commitment. A special thank you goes to Carol Thomas, Lynn Cozart, Tina Heindel, Katie Sauser, Tracy Price, Doris Fragale and Libby Parks who helped out."

The program will be offered again for 10-12-year-old girls on Sunday, March 16 and space is still available. The annual program for fathers and sons will be offered in October. For more information, call 373-1285 or check the website at www.cdom.org, click on NFP.