CHARLOTTE — It’s summer, and that means lots of summer camps. In the Diocese of Charlotte, summer is also the season for Totus Tuus.
Now in its sixth year in the diocese, Totus Tuus summer camps are dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith to children in rising first grade through the 12th grade through catechesis, evangelization, Christian witness and Eucharistic worship. “Totus Tuus,” a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours,” was the motto of St. John Paul II. Taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary,” it signifies the desire to give oneself entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary.
One of the 18 parishes participating in Totus Tuus this summer has been St. Thomas Aquinas Church, which held its faith-filled summer camp for kids on July 10-15.
This year’s theme in all the parishes, including St. Thomas Aquinas, has been about “Prayer and the Our Father.” There has also been an emphasis on the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary.
As in other parishes, the program at St. Thomas Aquinas has grown in participants and volunteers since its first year. Coordinated by Sister Edeva Jover, parish youth ministry director, this year’s summer camp included more than 50 children.
Totus Tuus inspires the parish youth, Sister Edeva said. “The kids want to go to Mass and experience Holy Hour.”
Sarah Booles, a Totus Tuus participant and rising 10th-grader, describes the program as a mixture of fun and growing in faith.
“I look forward to our group discussions,” Booles said. “It’s enlightening.”
She and fellow participants Valentina Morales, Josie Peplinski and Katheryn Ryan agreed that Totus Tuus gave them a chance to learn more about Christ.
Totus Tuus also provides a unique opportunity for college students to become missionaries, of a sort. Catechists, grouped into teams of two young men and two young women, lead the week-long camp at each parish, teaching and inspiring the parish’s youth.
This year three teams of catechists traveled around the 18 parishes over the seven weeks when Totus Tuus camps have been offered.
One of those catechists was Mary Grace Bergen, a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. She describes Totus Tuus as a combination of Christian witness and one’s own experience in faith, mixing Bible stories, prayers, Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, games, songs and more into interactive lessons that encourage kids to deepen their faith.
“I want to provide a better understanding of what the Catholic Church is,” Bergen said, “the one Church Jesus established, that is continuously growing and thriving.”
The mission of the program is to inspire youth to make their faith “totally yours,” she said.
— Rachel McKimmon, Correspondent
ASHEVILLE — Just weeks after Pope Francis' trip to the U.S. last fall, St. Eugene Parish leaders completed a long-range, environmentally friendly savings project. On Oct. 28 they installed 147 solar panels atop the parish hall to help curb electric costs at the parish.
The $143,476 project was a joint effort of the parish's Care of Creation committee, the pastoral council, diocesan officials and pastor Father Patrick Cahill. Parishioners raised the money through donations and matching grants, reaching their goal six months after a "Solar Sunday Weekend" appeal earlier in the year.
"On March 8, 2015, when we announced the Solar Panels Project we projected a 22 percent savings on our electric bill," said Bill Maloney, organizer of the project. "Comparing bills from Dec. 10, 2015, to June 13, 2016, with the same period a year earlier, we exceeded our goal."
The parish reports that the 147 solar panels reduced their electricity cost last year by $4,694 for a savings of 35.5 percent, with an environmental savings of 27 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The panels have a 25-year warranty, so the parish anticipates savings will continue as the cost of electricity rises.
"An added bonus is that part of the project cost was sales tax," Maloney explained. "After filing with the IRS, the parish expects to receive back $5,059."
"When St. Eugene's Care of Creation Committee presented this solar panel proposal, I thought it a great idea and we supported the project," said Pete McHugh, who served as a past chair of the pastoral council and was on board from the beginning of the project's inception.
"We were unsure what the actual savings in electricity usage would be, but we believed that there would be some substantial reduction and carbon emissions would also be reduced. We believed then, and still do, that this was a direct response to (Pope Francis' encyclical) 'Laudato Si.'"
Parishioner Cynthia Gibbs agrees that this project has had a positive financial and environmental impact.
"I think it is imperative that we evaluate and invest in projects that will reduce our carbon footprint, and I was thrilled with St. Eugene's plan to install solar panels. Not only have we reduced our electrical bills, but we are following the spirit and theme of Pope Francis' 'Laudato Si' in taking care of our common home. It makes me so proud.
"I believe all North Carolina parishes should take a look at our success with solar panels and consider installing solar panels themselves."
"To see the savings in the electricity bills to date is very exciting, to say the least, and certainly justifies the worth of this project," McHugh said.
As a result of this project three parish families have installed solar panels on their homes and are also seeing significant savings.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Helping others learn to care for creation
If your parish or school is looking for a way to reduce your electricity bill and benefit the environment, give the parish a call. "We will be glad to share with you what we learned," Maloney said. Call the parish office at 828-254-5193.