At 94, retired military chaplain and priest, Father Daniel McCaffrey continues to travel the country challenging Catholics to embrace Humanae Vitae’s message about love, fertility and God’s design. His work on this teaching earned him the Diocese of St. Cloud 2025 Humanae Vitae award. The Humanae Vitae award is given annually to a person from the Diocese of St. Cloud who has demonstrated an extraordinary effort in promoting the teachings of Humanae Vitae, St. Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical that explains God’s plan for married love and the transmission of love.
In 1959, a year after his ordination, Father McCaffrey began a seven-year stretch of missionary work in Pakistan. While there, “the pill” came out in the United States.
“I knew that was going to cause havoc in the Church, and it did,” Father McCaffrey said. “It has divided the Church, and I have dedicated my life trying to bring people around to the truth.”
He kept this in mind as he served in ministry, received his doctorate in sacred theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and joined the United States Army Chaplain Corps, where he spent 20 years in active duty in Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Honduras and in various locations in the U.S.
When he was asked to be the administrator of a parish in Midland, Texas, only a month into his assignment, he felt inspired by the Gospel to speak on Humanae Vitae at Mass one Sunday.
He recalls drawing from the prophetic encyclical, written by Saint Pope Paul VI in 1968, which outlines the Church’s teachings about human life and the reasons natural methods are best for achievement or postponement of pregnancy are best.
He then invited parishioners to learn more about NFP the following Monday. More than 100 people attended. From that invitation, 43 couples were trained and became confident in their use of NFP.
In 1996, Father McCaffrey founded Natural Family Planning Outreach and, since that date, the organization’s mission is to provide “accurate, practical and up-to-date information about natural family planning; it’s practice, effectiveness, benefits and its underlying moral principles.”
Today, Father McCaffrey still visits parishes sharing the message of Humanae Vitae through parish missions and other outreach.
“I always say, ‘I don’t know you. I didn’t come here to judge you. I didn’t come here to criticize you. I came as a good shepherd who loves you and wants to see you happy,’” Father McCaffrey said.
“I tell them that [as a retired priest] I don’t need to be running around the country, but I do it because I’m concerned about your marriage and your final destiny.”
McCaffrey’s work also focuses on teaching priests to share the message of Humanae Vitae and NFP.
“I have a blueprint that helps priests with their preaching and to put things into action to have a natural family planning program in their parish,” he said.
Father McCaffrey’s work reaches far from his Oklahoma City base and has touched the Diocese of St. Cloud.
“He has dedicated his life to Humanae Vitae and over the decades has personally inspired our NFP instructors in the Diocese of St. Cloud. He also recently presented at our annual NFP update,” said associate director of natural family planning, Sheila Reineke.
Annually the Diocese of St. Cloud presents the Humanae Vitae award to a person who has demonstrated extraordinary courage in promoting Natural Family Planning and the Teachings of Humanae Vitae.
Sue Ek, parishioner of St. Augustine in St. Cloud and director of communications for NFP Outreach, nominated Father McCaffrey for the 2025 Humanae Vitae Award.
“He walks his talk,” Ek said. “He has the courage to preach on [NFP,] he preaches it with humor and sensitivity and he has gotten standing ovations.”
Father McCaffrey said he is honored to receive the 2025 Humanae Vitae award.
He said, “It’s wonderful to see there is a bishop that recognizes [the importance of NFP] and that the people up there in the beautiful diocese are willing to do things. That’s a rare thing, and I am very honored to receive the award.”
Father McCaffrey will be honored with Mass celebrated by Bishop Patrick Neary at the annual diocesan Humanae Vitae Mass and Award Reception, July 24 at St. Mary’s Cathedral St. Cloud at 7 p.m. A reception will follow.
Father McCaffrey is the priest who talked me into to joining the Catholic Church in 1993, in Midland, Texas. I pray that he is doing well and congratulations Father for all your hard work! May the Lord keep you and bless you.
Congratulations Fr. Daniel for your award for all the work you have done for NFP. .