Children reacted to the antics of one of the Totus Tuus missionaries last week in Good Shepherd Hall at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita. Camp Totus Tuus is also underway. To learn more about the new Family and Youth Camp and other priorities of the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign, visit OneFamilyFullyAlive.org.

The week of July 8 was Totus Tuus Week for St. Ignatius Parish in Neodesha and Sacred Heart Parish in Fredonia, parishes about 14 miles from each other.

Lorri Wallace, one of the coordinators, said about two dozen youth took part in the summer catechesis. Four missionaries, two men and two women, are conducting Totus Tuus in St. Ignatius’ parish hall with the help of Fr. Stuart Smeltzer, pastor of both parishes.

“These kids are dynamic,” she said. “My husband and I are hosting the boys at my house because we’ve raised four sons. They are very, very polite. They’re a good team with a lot of energy. I used to be a high school teacher and I’m thinking ‘Good night, you guys! You’re great!’”

She noted that the Totus Tuus team was doing a commendable job intermingling fun and faith: “That’s what the little kids need. They need to see that you can have fun and pray.”

The missionaries serving the two parishes were Grace Francis, Kaylee McNeill, Danni Cortez, and Zach May.

Camp Totus Tuus is busy this year due to its larger diocesan campground south of Hutchinson which can host nearly twice as many participants compared to its former site.

Sky Creed, program coordinator for Totus Tuus, reported smooth operations at Camp Totus Tuus so far.

The seven-week-long camps for boys and girls across various grade levels began on June 9 and will end on Aug. 2.

“Our capacity is up to 128 compared to past years when we’ve been really only able to have 84 kids out there,” Creed said.“There’s a lot more space. A lot more room for different activities, fun and games.”

Campers now have access to canoeing on a lake within campgrounds as well as an expanded swimming area allowing greater participation simultaneously.

Nearly ten priests visit weekly to hear confessions providing greater exposure to sacramental life: “And the kids get an introduction to priests who serve our diocese.”

With increased activity comes increased demand for food: “One of our school cooks is our head cook,” Creed said.“She runs kitchen planning while counselors staff it following her instructions.”

Creed emphasized how valuable this new site has been in bringing more youth into an encounter with Christ: “Especially with our increased counselor capacity... Kids are able to have a more personalized experience."

Diocesan leaders completed necessary renovations just six months after acquiring support from One Family Fully Alive In Christ! Campaign enabling them host overnight camps at their new location featuring amenities like spring-fed lakes or amphitheaters among others while working towards developing master plans/business plans over coming months using funds raised through campaigns covering costs such property purchases/renovations etc., establishing endowments helping ongoing maintenance/operations providing financial assistance needy families.