ALTON - Natural Family Planning classes will begin Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Saint Clare's Professional Building at 519 E. Fifth St.

"Natural Family Planning classes offer real practical help and support in understanding and living your married sexuality" said Anna Haine, mother, grandmother and wife.

Anna and her husband Bill are members of St. Mary Parish in Alton. They are active promoters and former teachers of Natural Family Planning.

"Natural Family Planning uses an informed awareness of your fertility. It is a beautiful way to cooperate with the way God made you in planning your family," Haine said. "If you don't know much about Natural Family Planning, you will be amazed at what you learn in this class."

Haine said the Couple to Couple League has just completed a comprehensive revision of the class format. The material presented has been thoroughly updated and takes full advantage of insights gained from John Paul II in his Theology of the Body.

John and Joan Kane, also active members of St. Mary, will be teaching the classes. They are trained and certified by the Couple to Couple League. Each series consists of three or four classes at one-month intervals. Personal counseling is available and encouraged. All classes meet at 7 p.m. on Monday evenings.

Contact John or Joan Kane to register at (618) 466-4410 or .

The Couple to Couple League (CCL) is an international, interfaith, nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching Natural Family Planning (NFP) to married and engaged couples. CCL has grown to be the largest NFP provider in the United States, and has a presence in 23 foreign countries. Since 1971 CCL has taught NFP to over 165,000 families.