Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Church

Part-time Coordinator of  Catholic Youth Ministry and Evangelization

 Sacred Heart-Saint Francis de Sales Parish, (SHSF), hosted Totus Tuus from July 29-August 3. Over 80 young people participated. It was the largest in the Diocese and the 7^th year that it was held in Bennington. Totus Tuus is a catechetical program designed to spread the Gospel to young people through a fun, summer camp atmosphere. While our day program for youth from first to eighth grade includes 'cookie breaks' and camp songs, it also offers children the opportunity to develop a life of prayer. Each day included Mass, the opportunity for Reconciliation, and a decade of the rosary, as well as prayers led by the four college-aged team members who head the program. In addition to the day program, Totus Tuus also includes a High School Night, held in the evenings for teens entering ninth through twelfth grade, as well as recent high school graduates. This program is less structured, but centers on talks which mold the curriculum of the day program into a witness format to inspire the teens in their faith. High School Night also includes one night devoted just to Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation, as well as another night just devoted for fun games. The team thoroughly enjoyed our time in Bennington, and appreciated the energy all of the participants brought to the week. We hope Totus Tuus was a fun and formative time for all who joined us and we look forward to returning next year!" Special thanks to the team which included two connected with the parish. Bethany Hojnowski is a parishioner at SHSF and Jack Lyons whose grandmother, Claire Lyons , is a parishioner at St. John. Local leadership  was Tammy Buckley, Mary Drew, Jessica O’Connell and Kathy Murphy.