By Peter Tan
SIMANGGANG, 24 January 2026 — In a gathering that beautifully united faith with the science of life, the parish community of Our Lady Queen of Peace hosted a profound Billings Ovulation Method (BOM) Awareness Seminar. The event served as a living testament to the Church’s teaching that God’s wisdom is written in the very fabric of our creation.
Guided by the expertise of Dr Chan Lek Lim of the Billings Ovulation Method Service of Malaysia and warmly assisted by local advocate Mr Kevin Kawen, the seminar illuminated a path for couples to walk in sync with both their faith and their natural design. The atmosphere resonated with the truth of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit within you… You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Dr Chan framed the day not merely as a lesson in biology, but as an invitation to stewardship—of one’s health, one’s marriage, and the gift of fertility. He presented the Billings Method as a way to “honor God with your bodies,” offering a clear, scientific means for achieving or postponing pregnancy that respects the body’s God-given integrity. His explanation of charting as a form of health monitoring echoed the call to cherish the temple of the self.
The presentation thoughtfully addressed the challenges of modern life, contrasting artificial interventions with a natural method that fosters virtue and unity. It called to mind Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” The seminar proposed that understanding and working with our natural fertility is a way to affirm this original goodness.
The most stirring moments came during the personal testimonies, led by Mr Kevin Kawen. His sharing, and that of fellow teachers, reflected the “fruit of the Spirit” as described in Galatians 5:22-23—”love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”—cultivated through the mutual respect and communication the method requires. They spoke of marriages strengthened, not by convenience, but by the deliberate, loving cooperation described in 1 Corinthians 7:3-4, where spouses belong to one another.
The introduction of the BOM Teacher Training Program was framed as a call to mission, inviting attendees to consider how they might use their gifts to serve other couples. It was an echo of 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
As the seminar closed, participants left with more than information; they carried a renewed vision for their vocation. They were equipped to see family planning not as a separate, secular concern, but as an integral part of a holy life, a practical way to live out the covenant of marriage. It was a morning that beautifully demonstrated how faith and reason, love and nature, can walk hand in hand toward a more profound understanding of God’s plan for life and family.
The Parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace extends its heartfelt thanks to Dr Chan, Mr Kevin Kawen, and all who attended for making this a day of true Catholic witness—where science serves love, and knowledge deepens faith.
