Totus Tuus: Not Your Ordinary VBS

St. Boniface 5th grader Linus Borer and Totus Tuus team member Shannon Moore share a high five

Around 70 first through twelfth grade students from St. Boniface Parish in Elgin and the surrounding area are nearing the end of their week of Totus Tuus, and by the sound of things over on the school lawn, enjoying it immensely.

Led by a team of eight high energy college-aged students, the Totus Tuus program, which means “Totally Yours” in Latin and is pronounced “Tote-Us Two-Us”, aims to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in parishes across the archdiocese, in addition to helping parishes by providing a fun and strong catechetical program.

The program will be in O'Neill, Ewing, and Atkinson in the coming weeks.

Junior High and High School students meet in the evenings from 7:00-9:00 pm, and focus on instruction on topics important to young people, along with fun and fellowship with the team members. The overarching goal is to help the youth further develop a deep personal relationship to Jesus Christ.

The first through sixth grade kids meet each day during the week from 9:00 am-2:30 pm, focusing on learning more about God and their faith through catechetical instructions, songs, games, daily Mass, lunch, and recess.  

They also sing a song about a sticky moose who drank some juice:

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Parents enjoyed root beer floats with their kids and the Totus Tuus team at the school Wednesday afternoon, and had the chance to hear the kids perform this and another kid favorite, a catchy ditty called “The Banana Song.”  

When asked about her favorite part of Totus Tuus, St. Boniface elementary student Kaitey Schumacher, 8, enthusiastically stated, “The skits are funny!”

Fellow St. Boniface student, 5th grader Matthew Dilly agrees. “[I love] everything! Learning more about God—and the skits. Those are funny.”

The Omaha Archdiocese, of which St. Boniface Parish is a part, sends out five dedicated Totus Tuus teams each year, who spend a week in various parishes throughout the summer. This is the sixth year that St. Boniface Parish has held the program, originally implemented by Father Dan Andrews and organized each year by Scott and Deb Beckman.

St. Boniface and Pope John XXIII High School Principal Betty Getzfred is grateful for what the program offers to area kids.

“The Totus Tuus teams assist parents, schools and parishes in their mission to evangelize, teach the faith of the Church and to develop the children's relationship with Jesus Christ.  During the week the children witness the teams' example of joy, service and their love of the Catholic faith.”

The eight members of the 2015 Totus Tuus team in Elgin this week are (from left): Shannon Moore, a junior at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Matt Soltys, a senior at the University of St. Thomas, Chad Haiar, a junior at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, Charlie Jarosik, a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, Alex Davis, an Aspirant with the Dominican Friars, Elise Parr, a 5th year senior at Benedictine College, Kendra Thyen, a sophomore at Dakota State University, and Ariana Castanon, a senior at Wayne State College.

A Totus Tuus team is also in Creighton this week, and a team will make an appearance in O’Neill June 13-19, Ewing and Atkinson July 11-17, and in Crofton July 18-24. For more information and to register, contact your local parish.

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Kaitey Schumacher, 3rd grader and Totus Tuus Alum

St. Boniface 5th grader Matthew Dilly