Youth enjoying parish Totus Tuus, camp

The week of July 8 was Totus Tuus Week for St. Ignatius Parish in Neodesha and Sacred Heart Parish in Fredonia, parishes about 14 miles from each other.

Lorri Wallace, one of the coordinators, said about two dozen youth took part in the summer catechesis. Four missionaries, two men and two women, are conducting Totus Tuus in the St. Ignatius’ parish hall with the help of Fr. Stuart Smeltzer, the pastor of both parishes.

“These kids are dynamic,” she said. “My husband and I are hosting the boys at my house because we’ve raised four sons. They are very, very polite. They’re a good team with a lot of energy. I used to be a high school teacher and I’m thinking ‘Good night, you guys! You’re great!’”

She said the Totus Tuus team was doing a great job of intermingling fun and faith. “That’s what the little kids need. They need to see that you can have fun and pray.”

The missionaries serving the two parishes were Grace Francis, Kaylee McNeill, Danni Cortez, and Zach May.

Camp Totus Tuus busy

There is nearly twice as much fun and catechesis happening at Camp Totus Tuus this year. That’s because the new diocesan campground south of Hutchinson is much larger and can host nearly twice as many as it could at its former site.

Sky Creed, the program coordinator for Totus Tuus, reported smooth sailing, or rather smooth paddling, at the Totus Tuus camp so far.

The seven-week-long camps for boys and girls in various grade levels began on June 9 and ends on Aug. 2.

“Our capacity is up to 128 compared to past years when we’ve been really only able to have 84 kids out there,” Creed said.“There’s a lot more space. A lot more room for different activities, fun and games, giving the counselors the ability creativity to come up with new activities.”

Lake is a huge asset

Campers are able to paddle canoes in the camp’s lake, she said, and the swimming area allows more campers to be involved in those areas at one time.

Nearly 10 priests have been visiting the camp each week to hear confessions, she said.

“So there’s a greater exposure to the sacramental life. And the kids get an introduction to the priests who serve our diocese, something they wouldn’t necessarily get if they weren’t coming to camps.”

With all that activity the youth need a lot of food.

“One of our school cooks is our head cook,” Creed said. “She runs the kitchen and does all the planning and organizing. The counselors who are ‘off-camp’ staff the kitchen and follow her instructions. They’re the ones serving the meals. It’s an awesome opportunity for them to serve in a different capacity.”

Although Totus Tuus is still in its first year at the developing camp, Creed already understands how valuable the new site is in bringing more youth into an encounter with Christ.

A more personalized experience

“Especially with our increased counselor capacity,” she said. “Kids are able to have a more personalized experience. They’re able to be accompanied in a closer fashion by our counselor-to-camper ratio. They’re being served in a more individual manner.”

Creed said she sees many more possibilities for activities with the anticipated aquatic center.
The size of the new campgrounds is a blessing – and a challenge.

“One of our counselors favorite things to do out there right now – they have all brought their bikes out – is to ride from one side of the camp to the other,” Creed said. “Having just something as simple as that for campers allows them to enjoy a different facet of the outdoor life.”

The bicycles are cutting a 10-minute walk from one end of the camp to the other down to a two-minute ride.

Just six months after acquiring the campground with support from the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign, the diocese completed the renovations and maintenance work needed to host the overnight camp at the new location. It is located just 65 minutes from downtown Wichita and features a spring-fed lake, 12 existing buildings, an amphitheater, walking trails, and other amenities. Diocesan leaders are currently working with an architect and camp consultant to develop a master plan and business plan for the camp over the coming months.

Funds raised through the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign will cover the cost to purchase the property, renovate existing facilities, clean up the grounds, and eventually build new cabins. In addition, an endowment will be established to help with ongoing maintenance and operations and to provide financial assistance to families in need.