Parish Involvement
The focus of the Totus Tuus program is on the youth of the parish; however, the entire parish can be involved. Already mentioned is the need for host families to house and feel the team during the week. Here are additional ways to get a larger portion of the parish involved.
Parish Potluck Dinner
If the parish desires, a potluck supper for the children, their families, and all parishioners on Wednesday evening. The potluck dinner should begin at 5:15 PM. and wrap up around 6:30 PM to allow the team time to prepare for the evening program. Once again, this activity and the time are suggested; the day and time can be adapted to meet the needs of each individual parish.
We encourage this to be a parish-wide event. This gathering gives the team an opportunity to meet families and other parish members. It is also an excellent opportunity for the parents to meet and get to know the teachers. During the evening the team will introduce themselves and explain a little about the history and mission of Totus Tuus. To close the night, the team will lead the children in some songs and a Q&A session with the kids to show the parish what the 1st–6th grade youth have been learning throughout the week.
Intercessors
While the team is at your parish, and even before they arrive, we recommend recruiting intercessors to pray for and provide spiritual assistance to the team, the youth, the coordinators and volunteers, and the pastor of your parish. This is a great way to involve parishioners who don’t have school-aged children attending Totus Tuus.
Ask the regular Adorers, daily Mass attendees, members of the Knights of Columbus, Rosary or Prayer Groups to commit to daily or weekly prayer for the team, the participants, and the program. They can pray in whatever way they like: offer Masses, holy hours, rosaries, chaplets; intercessory prayer; offer a day of fasting.
Lastly, invite the parish to attend the 11:15 AM daily Mass the week of Totus Tuus.
Parish Potluck Dinner
If the parish desires, a potluck supper for the children, their families, and all parishioners on Wednesday evening. The potluck dinner should begin at 5:15 PM. and wrap up around 6:30 PM to allow the team time to prepare for the evening program. Once again, this activity and the time are suggested; the day and time can be adapted to meet the needs of each individual parish.
We encourage this to be a parish-wide event. This gathering gives the team an opportunity to meet families and other parish members. It is also an excellent opportunity for the parents to meet and get to know the teachers. During the evening the team will introduce themselves and explain a little about the history and mission of Totus Tuus. To close the night, the team will lead the children in some songs and a Q&A session with the kids to show the parish what the 1st–6th grade youth have been learning throughout the week.
Intercessors
While the team is at your parish, and even before they arrive, we recommend recruiting intercessors to pray for and provide spiritual assistance to the team, the youth, the coordinators and volunteers, and the pastor of your parish. This is a great way to involve parishioners who don’t have school-aged children attending Totus Tuus.
Ask the regular Adorers, daily Mass attendees, members of the Knights of Columbus, Rosary or Prayer Groups to commit to daily or weekly prayer for the team, the participants, and the program. They can pray in whatever way they like: offer Masses, holy hours, rosaries, chaplets; intercessory prayer; offer a day of fasting.
Lastly, invite the parish to attend the 11:15 AM daily Mass the week of Totus Tuus.
