Program

Totus Tuus (Totally Yours) is a fun and energetic parish based summer catechetical program for grade school age children and for junior high and high school youth. Totus Tuus gathers together college students and seminarians onto teams of four and sends them out to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in various parishes throughout the diocese.

The team serves for a week in each parish by putting on a program that runs from Sunday-Thursday from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM for junior high and high school youth. The goal during Totus Tuus is to put the youth in contact with the Lord so that they can develop a deep personal relationship with Him. To this end, there is a night of Adoration and the opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, catechetical instruction on topics important to young people and a night of fellowship with the team members.

The team also presents a grade school program for students entering grades 1-6. This portion of Totus Tuus runs from Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM. The focus of the week is on imparting an understanding and love of the Eucharist, devotion to Mary, catechetical instruction, vocational discernment and providing an enjoyable experience. During the week, the children will participate in four classes each day, have the opportunity for Reconciliation daily, attend daily Mass, learn the Mass parts and liturgical songs, and participate in games, icebreakers, skits, songs, recess, and prayer. The week ends with a large water fight with the children in celebration for the week.

The topics for instruction focus on a series of themes that rotate each year.  There are six topics, so a student can attend each year from grade 1 through 6 and be presented with new catechesis each summer.  The six-year cycle is:

• Creed
• Sacraments
• Ten Commandments
• Virtues and Beatitudes
• Prayer
• Mystery of Salvation

Each year also focuses on a Mystery of the Rosary.

• Glorious Mysteries
• Joyful Mysteries
• Luminous Mysteries
• Sorrowful Mysteries
  

The Totus Tuus team stays with host families while in the parish. Meals are shared with different families throughout the week and all parishioners are invited to a potluck dinner on Wednesday night. There are plenty of other volunteer roles for members of the parish as well.

Totus Tuus started in the Diocese of Wichita in 1987 and came to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois in 2009. Since the inception of Totus Tuus, this program has succeeded in reaching out to children and youth in order to help them know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

For more information about Totus Tuus, contact the Office for Catechesis - Ministry to Youth and Young Adults at (217) 698-8500 x. 154.