By S.L. Hansen
for the Register
Summer catechesis programs for youth are a fun way for kids to learn more about their faith with potentially profound long-range impact.
Each year, these programs are scattered throughout the diocese, including camps, vacation Bible school weeks run by religious orders or parish coordinators, and Totus Tuus. Totus Tuus (“Totally Yours”) groups college students and seminarians into teams of four to conduct five-day missions for elementary school students during the day, and teens in the evenings. It’s been a popular diocesan program since 2002.
Amy Reisen, coordinator of youth evangelization and discipleship for the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, said Totus Tuus is an example of diocesan leaders training lay leaders to share the Gospel.
“They make sparks that we hope start fires in the hearts of students across the diocese, helping them to have encounters through the sacraments to lead them to a greater relationship with Christ,” Reisen said.
Parishes that have smaller populations of young people will often work together to host one of these programs. In 2023, the parents of Sacred Heart Parish in Red Cloud had to get even more creative.
The year prior, the parish hosted two Marian Sisters for a week-long program, but were unable to get on the 2023 schedule. When parishioner and mother of four Katie Davis heard that Sacred Heart in Roseland and Assumption Parish in Juniata were hosting Totus Tuus, she knew she had to get the children of her own parish involved.
Totus Tuus had a significant impact on Davis’ spiritual life. As a child and high schooler in Lincoln, she found her Totus Tuus instructors were so sincere in building relationships and “bringing fire to the faith,” she was sorry when they moved on to another parish. As a college student, Davis volunteered to be a Totus Tuus instructor for three summers.
“It really introduced a very powerful prayer life and community life with people who shared the same morals and values as me,” she recalled.
Though Davis was confident that her children and others of the parish would get a lot out of Totus Tuus, transportation was an issue. Red Cloud is nearly an hour away from Assumption Parish, where the program was being held.
Undaunted, Davis began contacting other parents to work out a carpool system.
“I knew if we took turns, we could make it happen,” she said.
One family had a grandmother who lived near Assumption, so those children stayed with her for the week. That left seven students. Four families had vans that could hold that many passengers, including the Davises, so they worked out a schedule. Each made two or three of the trips during the week.
The children loved Totus Tuus, Davis said.
“I remember driving home on the last day, and someone in the back said, ‘I am going to miss them.’ It brought back all the memories of how I felt when I was a child.”
Not only did the children have a good experience, they have in turn given their parish a wonderful gift: a new children’s choir.
“They came back with so many songs memorized at Totus Tuus, I knew they would be able to sing without books,” Davis explained.
She organized the first kids’ choir to sing at a Sunday Mass. Soon, the children were on the parish Mass schedule once a month, followed by either breakfast or supper, depending on the Mass time. The children also sang for the Christmas Eve Mass last December, and Davis plans to have them sing at a women’s gathering the church is planning this July.
“People love hearing the kids sing at Mass,” Davis said.
This summer, the Marian Sisters will return to Red Cloud, which Davis says is a wonderful experience in their community.
“Our kids never see sisters, ever,” she said. She plans to host the sisters for dinner once during the week they are in town. “There are so many graces that come from inviting sisters and priests to your home.”
She encourages parents in other small communities to find a way to include summer catechesis for their kids.
“I know it feels like you have to put in a lot of effort to make things happen, but it’s worth it,” Davis said. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to neighboring communities.”
Reisen said the diocese is committed to sending Totus Tuus missionaries where they are needed. There are six teams this year, each working for six weeks.
“One of the greatest fruits we see is a great zeal for the faith and increased reverence for the Eucharist,” Reisen said. “Look further down the road and you’ll find these students go on to lead in their parishes, on college campuses, and even step into FOCUS missionary roles after college.”
She added, “I wish I could thank all those who make sure Totus Tuus happens in parishes and communities. I could talk for days about the fruit of Totus Tuus, but all of that only happens because there are people in each place willing to extend themselves in charity to ensure the week runs smoothly.”
Learn more about Totus Tuus at www.lincolndiocese.org/totus-tuus.
