What Is Totus Tuus?

Totus Tuus is a summer Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic Faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and Eucharistic worship. Our week-long Parish Summer Catechetical Program assists parents and parishes in the evangelizing and catechizing of their youth by supplementing the work they are currently doing.

The methodology, structure, content, and enthusiasm of Totus Tuus are concerned not only with teaching the faith, but also igniting the hearts of the team members and the young people they encounter. The result has been the formation of young adults who continue to dedicate themselves to the Church’s mission of evangelization along with many vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

The mission of Totus Tuus is to inspire in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation, by the constant challenge to give themselves entirely to Christ through Mary, and by continually strengthening their prayer lives in imitation of Her.

Totus Tuus, a Latin phrase meaning “Totally Yours,” was the motto of Pope Saint John Paul II. Taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary” phrase, it signifies our desire to give ourselves entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary. It also expresses our effort to give our all to every young person we encounter. Through the teams’ example of joy and service, the youth see that these men and women are on fire with the Catholic faith and long for the same thing in their lives.

Totus Tuus calls upon college students and seminarians to carry this mission to every young person they encounter. These missionaries are hired for their energy, enthusiasm, love of the faith, commitment to spiritual growth, ability to work with a team, and a desire to work with youth.

Teams of four, two men and two women, travel to a different parish each week, hosting a five-day catechetical program for grades 1-6 during the day, similar to “Vacation Bible School," and an evening program for students in Grades 7-12. The week is filled with faith, fun, and friendship. There are messy games and crazy skits. Our college-age missionaries provide an authentic witness to the students.

If you have any questions, please contact the Archdiocesan Totus Tuus Director, Joanne Pohland at 563-556-2580, ext. 255 or [email protected]. We will help you in any way we can!