Thursday, 06 May 2010 10:50

Camp Totus Tuus begins June 7
Several years ago, the song “What if God was one of us” was popular. This should be an odd line to Catholics because God did become one of us. Christmas, after all, is not about presents and a break from school, but about the greatest present of all: the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us. God did become one of us!
Throughout his public ministry, Jesus invited everyone, especially those who were hungry, thirsty, weary, and burdened – as well as little children – to “come to Me.”
Jesus still offers this invitation to everyone today: “come to Me.” It’s an invitation that requires our response, for God doesn’t force his love upon us. But how do we respond to this invitation? How do we come to Jesus?
The first, and perhaps most obvious, way to come to Jesus is in prayer, but there are also many other ways to come to Jesus. At Camp Totus Tuus, youth are invited to come to Jesus with their whole being: body, mind and soul.
At Camp Totus Tuus, youth will come to Jesus through an obstacle course, a barrage of barbarian hordes throwing water balloons, a water slide, Totus Tuus jeopardy, or ninja night followed by a camp fire.

They’ll come to Jesus through the witness of priests, religious, seminarians, and the faithful college students who have dedicated their summers to coming closer to Christ and helping others come to Jesus as well.
And they’ll come to Jesus through prayer, the Mass, Eucharistic adoration, confession, the Rosary, and the Divine Office.
As Camp Totus Tuus takes this year’s theme from Jesus’ invitation to “come to Me,” we invite young people entering the 5th through 12th grades to come to camp and to Jesus for a personal encounter with God who did become one of us.
Camp dates
• Grades 5 & 6 Girls: June 7-9 and July 12-14
• Grades 5 & 6 Boys: June 9-11 and July 14-16
• Grades 7 & 8 Girls: June 21-25 and July 19-23
• Grades 7 & 8 Boys: June 28-July 2
• Grades 9 & 10 Girls: June 14-18
• Grades 11 & 12 Girls: July 26-30
• Grades 9 - 12 Boys: Aug. 2-6

Want to go to camp?
Registration for Camp Totus Tuus is available online at www.TotusTuusOfWichita.org. The early registration discount ends May 15; the final date to register for any camp is two weeks before it begins.

Teens Encounter Christ weekend June 26-28 at Spiritual Life Center
The Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministries will be sponsoring a Teens Encounter Christ retreat the weekend of June 26-28 at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
TEC retreats are for juniors and seniors in high school or recent graduates but are also open to adults who work with youth in this age group. Students who will be juniors in the fall of 2010 are also eligible to attend a summer TEC.
A TEC weekend offers participants an opportunity to grow in their relationship with Christ through talks, group discussion, individual reflection and prayer, and sharing in the Sacraments. TEC is also about having fun and getting to know other youth and adults from all around the Diocese of Wichita.
The cost of a TEC retreat is $70, which includes seven meals, two nights lodging and all materials.
Want to make a TEC weekend?
For an application or for additional information, call the youth office at (316) 269-3930, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or download an application at catholicdioceseofwichita.org/youth/tec and mail it to the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministries at 424 N. Broadway, Wichita KS 67202. The priority deadline for applications is May 14.

Sojourn for young adults June 11-13 at SLC
A Sojourn Retreat Weekend is scheduled for June 11-13 at the Spiritual Life Center.
Sojourn is for single adults, 18 to 39 years old, and those who are divorced, widowed, or never married. Sojourn offers an opportunity to pray, share the sacraments, join in fellowship and enjoy talks addressing the challenges faced by Catholic young adults today.
The cost for the weekend is $75 and includes five meals, two nights lodging, and all materials. For those who register before May 15, the fee is only $50.
For an application call the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministries at (316) 269-3930, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to request an application, or download an application at www.cdowk.org/yyam.