April 28, 2021

By Deacon Kevin Mastellon
Contributing Writer

OGDENSBURG – “Loving Authentically” is a leadership seminar developed by the diocesan offices of Family Life and Natural Family Planning. Deacon candidates of the diocese recently extended their formation weekend by a day to participate in the first seminar conducted by the group.

Sub-titled “Sex, Happiness and Catholic Teaching,” the presenters took their mission from St. Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy, “the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires.”

Wives of the deacon candidates could also attend the session.

Family Planning Director Stephen Tartaglia told the candidates the presentation is intended to educate Church leaders about Church teachings related specifically to contraception and sexual relations.

The presenters included Dr. Maura Hearden Fehlner, a Catholic theology teacher at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the last 20 years, Deacon John Fehlner of Lake Placid, founder and current president of Light of Truth, Inc.

Light of Truth is “a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to educating the general public about the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.”

Also presenting were Angelo and Suzanne Pietropaoli, Malone. They are the Natural Family Planning (NFP) directors for the diocese and certified NFP educators and Pre-Cana instructors.

The presentation included a viewing of the movie “Unprotected: A Pope, A Pill And The Perils of Sexual Chaos.”
Tartaglia told the group the seminar was being presented for the first time. Additional presentations to diocesan leadership groups are planned.