By Marie Meis
Elgin Review Staff Writer
A week of games, learning and faith-filled discussions all taught by energetic young people. This describes a week of Totus Tuus, a parish-based summer catechetical program for both grade school and high school aged students coming to St. Boniface parish.
Totus Tuus is a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours” that was Saint John Paul II’s apostolic motto. This fits in well to Totus Tuus’s mission as groups of college-age youth travel the diocese visiting various parishes and spending a week with the community, totally giving of themselves and their summer to teach others about their faith.
Karissa Dicke, a former Pope John graduate and Totus Tuus attendee, spent her past two summers on a Totus Tuus team. She encourages young people in the Elgin area to attend because of her great experiences in the program.
“It’s a way to learn something you didn’t know before about your faith. It’s kind of a nice, relaxed retreat because you can come and go and meet cool people. You all learn together,” she told.
A team of four college students will come to the St. Boniface parish on June 2-7. The grade school program runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Their time together includes catechetical instruction, songs, daily mass, reconciliation, and of course many games! On Friday afternoon the whole group gets to enjoy a water fight.
Any high schooler looking to attend can expect catechetical instruction, fellowship, adoration, reconciliation and of course, more games. These all happen Sunday to Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The team also looks to connect with St. Boniface parish members through meals each evening, lodging with parish members and coffee and rolls the Sunday they arrive.
Dicke tells possible participants, “It changes from year to year. The curriculum always changes so if you’ve gone before, it’s always different.”
Taralyn Baum, another past participant, will join the program as a Totus Tuus team member this year.
So all St. Boniface parish members can look forward to welcoming the Totus Tuus team members next week!
