St. Paul Parish in Fenton recently became a crossroads of faith and summer fun for young people who participated in Totus Tuus.
“The goal of Totus Tuus is to make lifelong disciples on mission,” Joe Dobrynski, associate director of the Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Youth Ministry, said. “I think it is an essential and integral part of a disciple is that they know they are supposed to be on mission to make other disciples.”
A program of the archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry, Totus Tuus has elements of a vacation Bible school and a mission. Taught by young adult catechists, known as “missionary teachers,” participants learn what it means to share the Gospel and how to promote the faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness and eucharistic worship.
Adam Gordon, a seminarian at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, worked with soon-to-be first and second grade students on the “Rosary song,” which they later performed in front of their older peers.
The latter part of the day included a water fight and making a “human sundae,” complete with chocolate syrup, sprinkles and assorted toppings, out of Msgr. Kevin Callahan and Totus Tuus missionary teacher Natalie Malloy.
“It’s summer. They should be having a lot of fun. It should be real, joyful, authentic fun, that’s not entertainment,” Dobrynski said. “These kids should know what real joy and friendship looks like and there’s nothing more fun than a water fight for summer.”
