Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is preparing for the return of the popular Catholic youth program, Totus Tuus, to various parishes across the diocese this summer. The program, dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and eucharistic worship, aims to inspire young people towards holiness and daily conversion.

Three teams of college-aged teachers will be traveling to different parishes each week to host the five-day catechetical program for grades 1-12. The week is promised to be filled with faith, fun, and friendship, including messy games, crazy skits, prayer, learning about the Sacraments, and attending Mass. Hundreds of children participate in this program annually, making it a well-loved tradition in the diocese.

The schedule for the program varies based on grade levels, with grades 7-12 running from Sunday to Thursday in the evenings, and grades 1-6 from Monday to Friday in the mornings and afternoons. The program will be held at various parishes throughout June and July, offering children an enriching and enjoyable experience to deepen their faith.

In light of the varying costs by parish, interested parents are encouraged to reach out to the hosting parish office for more information and to sign up their children. Additionally, Daniel Heffernan, Programming Coordinator at the Office for Vocations, is available for any queries related to Totus Tuus at dheffernan@dio.org.

As one of the college-age teachers participating in the program aptly puts it, "The college-age teachers also provide a witness to being an authentic disciple of Christ." This sentiment reflects the core mission of Totus Tuus in nurturing young individuals in their faith journey.

With the opportunity to engage in a week of faith, fun, and friendship, parents are urged to take advantage of this enriching summer program for their children.