Totus Tuus is Latin for “totally yours.” The ministry is dedicated to
the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The program shares the Gospel and promotes the Catholic faith through catechetical instruction, Christian witness, vocational discernment, Marian devotion and eucharistic worship.
The approach it takes — using skits, songs and games led by college students or recent college graduates, some of whom are discerning a vocation to religious life —makes Totus Tuus appealing to youth, says Erin Hodgson, the diocesan Totus Tuus coordinator.
It was Hodgson, pastoral associate at Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carlinville, who brought the program to the attention of Bishop George J. Lucas, who agreed in 2009 to start the program in the diocese. Assisting Erin with Totus Tuus this summer is Steve Arisman, a seminarian at Mundelein, who was a Totus Tuus leader last summer.
Each week two teams of Totus Tuus leaders move from parish to parish, working with first- through sixth-grade students during the day, and seventh-grade through high school age youth in the evenings.
So far this summer Totus Tuus has been at: St. Francis of Assisi, Hardin; Blessed Sacrament, Springfield; St. Mary, Pittsfield; St. John Vianney, Sherman; St. Edward and St. Joseph, Mendon/Quincy, and at St. Frances Xavier, Jerseyville.
After a mid-summer break and retreat, June 26 through July 2, Totus Tuus sessions resume: July 3-9, at St. Paul, Highland; July 10-16, at St. Peter, Quincy, and at St. Patrick, Pana; July 17-23 at Holy Cross, Auburn and Forty Martyrs, Tuscola; and July 24-30 at St. Brigid, Liberty and Ss. Mary and Joseph, Carlinville.
“We had people from around the country apply to be leaders,” says Kyle Holtgrave, head of youth ministry in the diocesan Office for Catechesis. “Erin and I interviewed each leader applicant and were able to pick those who had the best gifts for the Springfield diocese.
“As leaders they are paid, but it isn’t a lot of money. This is a way for them to immerse themselves in a vocation. I think all of the guys in the program are discerning their vocations to the priesthood. This might be the spark for a youth to pursue a vocation, to see young adults who are openly telling them how they arrive at the decision, and how they are all open to the call of the Holy Spirit.”