What is a typical response from a college student when you ask them, “What do you want to do this summer?” Their answer might be to travel. It might be an internship. Others might say “to chill.” Then, there are college students who say they felt a calling from God to something greater, to help advance the Catholic faith to young people in engaging and fun ways.

Eight college students, seven of which are from our diocese, chose to become teachers at Totus Tuus, a weeklong Catholic youth mission program taking place at several parishes in our diocese this summer. Totus Tuus is organized by the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The mission program is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and eucharistic worship. Totus Tuus has already taken place at several parishes in our diocese in June and continues at other parishes throughout July.

“The number one reason I chose to be a teacher at Totus Tuus is to touch children with the love of Jesus,” said Caitlyn Pendall. “He is so present in our lives but so easily hidden by normal activities or all the things we can fill our lives with. But He is so present and so here and Totus Tuus really gives us the opportunity to see that in our everyday lives.”

“I felt a call from God to grow holier in my faith life and to grow closer to Him and through Totus Tuus, I would be able to learn more about my faith, pray more, and grow closer to Him throughout the summer,” said Claire McGrath.

Two teams of four are currently traveling to a different parish in our diocese each week, hosting the weeklong catechetical mission program for grades 1-12. The week is filled with faith, fun, and friendship. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to prayer, learning, and the sacraments. These college-age teachers, who received in-depth training in early June, are on fire for our faith and provide an authentic witness to young people.

“I went to Totus Tuus as a kid and it was so cool to see college students on fire for their faith, and it really made an impact on me,” said Brian Barrett.

Demand to become a Totus Tuus teacher was high this year. Interviews were done by the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry. In the end, eight were chosen, four men and four women:

• Caitlyn Pendall, Collinsville. Home parish: Ss. Peter and Paul. Attending St. Louis University.
• Brian Barrett, Sherman. Home parish: St. John Vianney. Attending Eastern Illinois University.
• Claire McGrath, Thayer. Home parish: Sacred Heart in Virden. Attending St. John’s School of Nursing.
• Andrew Asana, Jacksonville. Home parish: Our Saviour. Attending Iowa State University.
• Barrett Larkin, Maryville. Home parish: St. Mary’s Assumption, St. Louis. Attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
• Natalia Styrczula, Schaumburg. Home parish: Divine Mercy Polish Mission. Attending Eastern Illinois University.
• Joe Niemerg, Dieterich. Home parish: St. Isidore. Attending Quincy University.
• Claire McKee, Edwardsville. Home parish: St. Boniface. Attending St. Louis University.

It is not too late to sign up your child for Totus Tuus. Here is the late June/July schedule:

June 26-July 3: Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Mt. Zion and St. Boniface in Edwardsville

July 10-17: St. Mary in Alton and Holy Family in Granite City

July 17-24: St. John the Evangelist in Carrollton and St. Katharine Drexel in Springfield

July 24-31: St. Cecilia in Glen Carbon and St. Francis Solanus in Quincy

Children in grades 1-6 attend Totus Tuus from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students in grades 7-12 attend from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Costs vary by parish. For more information and to sign up your child, contact the parish that is hosting Totus Tuus or go to dio.org/youthministry/tt.