I was a princess, I was a servant; I was a soccer player, I was a dancer; I was a singer, I was an actor; I was a mother, I was a teacher; I was a teammate, I was a friend; I was a lover, I was a fighter; I was an early bird, I was a night owl; I was a pilgrim, I was a missionary; I prayed, I was prayed for; I lived in mansions, and I was homeless...This summer I was Totus Tuus!"
Totus Tuus calls upon college students and seminarians from across the United States and Canada to carry out the mission of Totus Totus:
To inspire in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion and 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 is a summer catechetical program. It started in Wichita, KS, in 1987 and has spread to as many as 50 arch/dioceses across North America. It is authentically Catholic. Missionaries inspire kids with their dynamic Catholic faith. We actively participate in the Sacraments, Adoration, and devotion to our Blessed Mother. There are crazy skits and messy, fun games. Totus Tuus is a summer of intense sacrifice. You will grow as a disciple and as a leader. You'll make new friends and be inspired to live your faith in a deeper way.
Teams of four, two women/two men, travel to parishes across the arch/diocese. Each week you'll visit a new parish and host a five-day parish mission, similar to "vacation Bible school." Missionaries are responsible for teaching classes to grades 1-6 during the day and hosting a program for grades 7-12 in the evening. Missionaries will be trained to teach classes on theological topics. Missionaries stay with a host family from the parish and meals are provided during the week.
Pray Daily and frequent the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
As a Totus Tuus Missionary, you will pray the Liturgy of the Hours, a daily rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, as well as attend daily Mass and weekly Adoration.
Sacrifice for Others
By being “Totus Tuus” you will need to put the needs of others before your own, particularly those of the youth that you will encounter this summer.
“The Self lives only by dying, finds its identity and its happiness only be self-forgetfulness, self-giving, self-sacrifice, and agape love.”
Peter Kreeft
Be a Visible Witness of the Catholic Faith
All those you encounter will look to you as a witness of the Catholic Faith. This means conducting yourself in thought, word, and deed in accord with the Church’s teachings.
Most dioceses pay a flat stipend. This stipend can be spaced throughout the summer or paid at once, depending on their payroll schedule. It will definitely be a missionary’s wage, but your lodging and meals are provided throughout the summer.
We welcome applications from anyone age 18 and older. Applicants must have an authentic, dynamic Catholic faith and be actively living the teachings of the Catholic Church. We prefer one year of college/work, but are willing to consider mature high school graduates. No major or area of study is required. This is a great summer job experience for anyone who wants to work in ministry, education, or with children in other settings.
You can submit a National Application below to any arch/diocese that you are interested in serving.
Please note: each diocese does things a little differently, but the overall structure is the same. Please check with the diocese you're applying to about specific dates, application deadlines, compensation, etc.
Totus Tuus National is in need of college-age men and women committed to their Catholic Faith who feel called to share it with the youth in over 50 different arch/dioceses.
The position is a temporary 2-3 month commitment, Each arch/diocese has a little different schedule and pays a little differently.
Each Totus Tuus team consists of four members: two men and two women. The missionaries are chosen based upon their desire to teach the faith, love of children, energy, enthusiasm, and for their individual leadership skills. In order to run a week of Totus Tuus Summer Program smoothly, the missionaries adhere to a well-defined schedule which has as its foundation rooted in structured prayer life.
APPLICATION QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience working with youth is helpful but not required.
The applicant must be:
- A high school graduate
- A practicing Catholic
- Confirmed
- Have a working knowledge of the Catholic Faith
- Have a desire to work with youth
The missionary must be willing to:
- Learn and experience the faith
- Work with a team
- Respect team dynamics
- Strive for a stronger prayer life
- Teach children
- Travel well
