Infertility is a burden most couples don’t expect to carry, yet as many as 1 in 5 couples will experience it. It can impact your marriage, your relationship with family and friends, and your relationship with God. The cross of infertility can be an especially challenging one for Catholic couples with a deep desire to be co-creators with God and receive the blessing of children in their home. This cross, carried day after day, month after month, and year after year—often in silence—can put them to the test as they strive to discover how God is calling them to live out their unique call to fruitfulness in every moment.
God will bless our marriages with fruitfulness if we ask, but not always in the ways we expect. It is important to remember that infertile couples are fruitful when their married love is “open to others, to the needs of the apostolate … the needs of the poor…the needs of orphans” and to the world (St. John Paul II, Homily, 1982; quoted in Married Love and the Gift of Life). While infertility often feels like a long and lonely path, it is not the end of the journey. And know that you are not alone!
Society too often minimizes or ignores the loss and grief that families experience through infertility (not to mention miscarriage and stillbirth). We are here to support you with prayer and resources as you seek to follow God’s plan for your marriage. We hope to provide you with information that will help you with various aspects of your struggles. We pray that you will find this as a source of help, hope and healing.
Help & Healing
- Springs in the Desert was founded to offer spiritual and emotional accompaniment and solidarity to those carrying the cross of infertility. Here are some ideas for raising awareness about infertility. Are you interested in starting or participating in a small group?
- The Infertility Companion for Catholics, by Angelique Ruhi-Lopez and Carmen Santamaria, describes the Church’s teaching on reproductive technologies and provides a rich spiritual perspective on the emotions and faith involved in embracing the cross of infertility.
- Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABM) of Family Planning refers to the array of natural, healthy, and morally acceptable methods for helping couples achieve (or postpone) pregnancy without the use of drugs, devices, or expensive surgical procedures. The Creighton Model is especially effective at helping couples determine when they are fertile as well as identifying possible reproductive health concerns.
- An Open Letter to couples carrying the cross of infertility
- Have you experienced pregnancy loss? Please click here for more information.
Ministry Resources
- What Parish Leaders Should Know about Ministering to Couples Experiencing Infertility (Webinar) by Angelique Ruhi-López, Carmen Santamaría, authors of The Infertility Companion for Catholics.
- Pastoral Toolkit from Springs in the Desert
- Click here for a free Mother’s Day Resource with three simple suggestions for honoring mothers while also recognizing the unique gifts and spiritual fruitfulness of women burdened by infertility.
Contact Information
Staff
- Director: Wendy Baez
- Associate Director: Janelle Peregoy