Every summer in the Diocese of Madison, seven parishes host a week-long Catholic summer program called Totus Tuus, dedicated to sharing the Gospel through witness, catechesis, prayer, and the sacraments.
This mission to ignite the hearts of our young people is led by four faith-filled young people who have dedicated themselves to the Church’s mission for evangelization.
Mission: Making young disciples
Totus Tuus is a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours” and was the motto of St. John Paul II.
He took his motto from St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary.
Totus Tuus signifies our longing to give ourselves entirely to Jesus through Mary.
In the past few years in the diocese, we have made great efforts to live out our mission: To inspire in young people a longing for holiness, a deep desire for conversion of heart.
We also long to encourage an openness to their vocation by constantly challenging them to grow in relationship with Jesus and Mary.
The history of Totus Tuus
Totus Tuus was begun by a seminarian in the Diocese of Wichita, Kan., in 1987 as a project to keep youth busy and offer them catechetical instruction in parishes during the summers.
The seminarian recruited eight college students to assist him as the demand grew among parishes in the diocese.
Over the next decade, Totus Tuus expanded within and beyond the Diocese of Wichita.
In our current day, Totus Tuus has expanded its reach/mission to over 49 arch/dioceses in the United States and Canada.
We are happy to say that the Diocese of Madison is in its seventh summer with Totus Tuus — serving many parishes and several thousands of students in the diocese.
The Totus Tuus method
Every year, Totus Tuus prays for and calls upon seminarians and college students from our diocese and across the country to carry this mission to every young person, volunteer, and family they encounter in their time as a Totus Tuus missionary.
These young adults are hired for their enthusiasm, love for Christ and the Church, and their personal commitment to the spiritual life and sacraments.
They then in turn offer this life of faith as a personal witness of what it means to give one’s whole life to Christ.
A typical week includes learning to live the four holy habits: Mass, Confession, daily prayer, and embracing the cross.
Also included in the week are Rosary reflections, games, skits, and age-relevant catechesis.
Each team that is sent out to serve the parishes consists of two women and two men.
They are invited to a different parish each week conducting separate mission-like experiences for grade school students, and middle school and high school students.
While visiting a community, the team spends time with families and shares their mission with the whole parish on the weekends.
Know anyone interested in being on a Totus Tuus team?
It is that time of the year where we are recruiting and interviewing college-aged young people to serve as Totus Tuus missionaries.
If you are or know of a young person who you think might inspire others with their own lives and ability to share the faith, we would love to know.
Visit the Totus Tuus page at madisondiocese.org/totustuus for a team member application.
Interested in Totus Tuus?
If your children are interested in attending Totus Tuus, see madisondiocese.org/totustuus for a complete schedule for this summer.
If you would like more information regarding Totus Tuus, contact Michelle Nilsson or Megan Chandler in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis at 608-821-3160 or [email protected]