Letter to the Editor: I'm Thankful for Blackfriars Media
Promoting Life: Third Order Dominican, Dr. Karen Poehailos, M.D. with Fr. Luke Clark, O.P., beside
photographs of babies born with the assistance of NaPro Technology. Fr. Luke is the pastor at
St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Charlottesville, VA.
By Jennifer, a Current NaPro Patient
I recently heard about Blackfriars Media, and the latest endeavor to create a
documentary about NaPro Technology. When I saw the trailer, it brought tears
to my eyes. This is the first thing that I've seen related to NaPro that looks not
only informative, but also modern and professionally done.
My husband and I have suffered with infertility for a couple of years now and
I will never forget the moment when my regular (non-NaPro) OBGYN called to
tell me that I would likely never conceive and our only possible chance was
through the use of IVF and donor eggs. The news was devastating and absolutely
shocking—especially considering I had only one blood test done. How could
this be? Surely there was more to it? She referred us to a local fertility specialist
who basically confirmed it without conducting any other in-depth testing. We felt
completely blind-sided and horrified...
hird Order Dominican Works Alongside
T
Friars to Defend Life
By Dr. Karen D. Poehailos, O.P., M.D.
W
hen one thinks of the
Dominican Order promoting
the Culture of Life, he might
think immediately of friars in their
black and white habits at the March
for Life. I’ve experienced that it can
reach beyond this important witness
and into my own medical profession.
After moving to Charlottesville and
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in 1997,
I encountered Dominican friars who
were willing to guide my exploration
of the “why” behind the Church’s
teaching on contraception—going
into Papal encyclicals and Theology
of the Body. They were sympathetic
with my struggles as I developed
a non-contraceptive practice, but
never allowed me an “easy out.” As I
embraced the beauty of this, I found
myself building the Natural Family
Planning program at our parish.
I’ve been privileged to watch it
grow to one that requires all couples
doing marriage preparation to take
a full class series in NFP—with the
result that in one year our parish
ALONE accounted for 0.7% of the
persons taught NFP—in the entire
nation. Our parish became the
nucleus for our Diocesan program—
organizational meetings were held at
St. Thomas Aquinas with Fr. Thomas
Blau, O.P., encouraging our efforts.
My journey to the Truth led
me to discover my own calling to
the Dominican Order—as a Lay
Dominican. I’ll always be grateful
to the Order that enabled me to
embrace the Truth, and then gave
me the tools to effectively live
and preach it.
About the author:
Dr. Karen D. Poehailos, O.P., M.D.,
C.F.C.M.C., is the Natural Family
Planning Coordinator for St.
Thomas Aquinas University Parish in
Charlottesville, VA and the Diocese
of Richmond. A Final Promised
member of the Lay Fraternities
of St. Dominic, she is a Certified
FertilityCare Medical Consultant,
board certified family physician,
and a visiting assistant prof