Totus Tuus
Totus Tuus (“Totally yours”) is a summer faith formation program for Catholic kids and teens that shares the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, witness and worship. This week-long program in parishes features lots of fun activities, small group encounters and talks, music, games and more! Participants attend Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, pray the rosary, and enjoy spending time with other young Catholics their age. Separate programs are geared for children in grades K-8 and 9-12.
Totus Tuus is a summer faith formation program in which college-aged students from across the United States go to a parish for a week each summer to teach children and teens about sharing the Gospel and living their Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, witness and worship. The methodology, structure, content and enthusiasm of Totus Tuus not only relies on young people teaching other young people the faith, but also igniting the hearts of both alike.
College students are selected for their energy, enthusiasm, love for the faith, commitment to spiritual growth, ability to work with a team, and desire to work with youth.
They are grouped into teams of four, each consisting of two men and two women. They are invited to a different parish every week for seven weeks, where they conduct a week-long “parish mission,” teaching and inspiring that parish’s youth.
Katie Matlak is the director for the Totus Tuus program in the Diocese of Charlotte. Interested in learning more? Contact her anytime – see information below.
College students from around the United States are recruited and go through a rigorous interview process before being selected to teach Totus Tuus in the Diocese of Charlotte.
Each college student attends a 10-day catechetical training before the launch of Totus Tuus in the summer, and they must complete all Safe Environment compliance training necessary to minister to and with the youth of our diocese.
Totus Tuus typically launches as a summer program in mid-June and comes to a close in early August.
The college student teams who teach Totus Tuus are sent to one parish for one week. Each parish program runs from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon, culminating in a big celebration that involves food, fun and games.
Mission
The mission of Totus Tuus is to inspire in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation by constantly challenging them to give themselves entirely to Christ through Mary and by continually strengthening their prayer lives in imitation of Her.
Motivation
Totus Tuus, a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours,” was the motto of Pope John Paul II. Taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary,” it signifies our desire to give ourselves entirely to Jesus Christ with the help of His mother. It also expresses our effort to give our all to every young person we encounter. Through the teams’ example of joy and service, young people see that these men and women are on fire with the Catholic faith and long for the same thing in their lives.
Method
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