Diocesan families provide housing, meals for Totus Tuus teachers

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
July 10, 2008

While traveling throughout the Diocese of Sioux City, the teachers of Totus Tuus - "Totally Yours" - receive hospitality from many people.

Families, for example, invite the teachers to stay in their homes during the week. One family hosts the young women and another the young men.

During the first week of Totus Tuus this summer, May 31 through June 6, Darcie Kramer, DRE at St. Cecelia's in Algona, hosted the four female teachers. Since it was the first week, both Totus Tuus teams were in the same town.

"I am glad I decided to host. It was an awesome experience," she said. "It was a lot of fun having them here. It was nice to have conversations with them about our faith. It was nice to have a group of people here who we knew we could ask questions. They are so knowledgeable."

The teachers answered questions, talked about their experiences and shared their faith stories.

Although Kramer's four-year-old daughter was too young to attend Totus Tuus this year, she really wanted to go. The four-year-old became attached and was sad to see the young women go at the end of the week, she said.

Kramer noted that the Totus Tuus teams were "awesome" at promoting a love for God. It was good for the students attending to see the teachers as role models who are "pure and strong in their faith."

"Totus Tuus did a lot for our kids and our community," she said. "Being the director at the church, I had people come up to me and say how much the kids loved it, talk about it, sing the songs they learned and can't wait for next year."

Good company

The week of June 21 - 27 one team - Andrea Jenson, Brian Feller, Rosalie Full and John Leinbaugh - taught at St. Joseph in Struble. Lorraine Ruden hosted the young women and Mary and Lloyd Vandermolen hosted the young men.

"My husband passed away about a year ago and I have been alone. I thought this would be nice company for me," said Ruden. "I have enjoyed helping out."

She liked having the young women's company and learned they have "nice personalities."

When the young women went back to the house in the evening, they all prayed together. Ruden said it "seems to mean more" when there are more people praying together.

Host families provide

"It is so great to meet the families we are working with and see the community that is built around the church," said Andrea Jenson, a Pocahontas native. "It is really inspiring to see that the Catholic Church is the people and to meet those people, live with them and see how they live. Everyone is so generous."

She mentioned that the host families provide breakfast, showers, a warm bed and time to get to know the family.

"At night we will go to one of the host homes and it is really cool to pray with the host family. We get to know them on a personal level and a spiritual level," said Jenson.

Mark Thomason, diocesan director of catechesis, evangelization and RCIA, noted that the teachers are away from home for most of the year and to give up their summers "takes a lot."

"We here at the office of Totus Tuus could not provide the church with our ministry without the host homes," he said. "They are essential to our program. Their generosity is unbelievable. They open up their homes to us and offer us not just palaces to sleep but the comforts of family that help our teachers on their grueling summers."

The Vandermolens hosted for the first time this year because they thought it would interesting to meet the young men.

"This is our way of helping out. They are so easy to have around. We hardly know they are here," said Mary Vandermolen. "They are very interesting, very polite."

The teachers are mainly with their host families for breakfast in the morning and possibly for dinner in the evening. Two of the evenings while the teachers were in Struble they sat by a campfire and talked with their host families.

Future host

One team of Totus Tuus teachers will travel to Sacred Heart in Spencer the week of July 12 - 18. While there, the young women will stay with Gwen Kardell, DRE, who also hosted last year. The young men will stay with Ron Olberding, principal at Sacred Heart School.

"We were asked and we have the space," she said. "It comes naturally to open our doors to let the kids stay here. I knew it would be a wonderful experience."

Since Kardell works at the church, it was convenient for her to give them rides and do what she can to help them out.

"They joined right in with the family. I am sure they miss their families," she said. "The kids are so good and so devoted. They bring such a nice feeling to your home."

Kardell enjoys having the teachers around because of their enthusiasm, knowledge of their faith and the way they show it - "all by action."

Her children attended Totus Tuus last year and enjoyed the youth-led program. They look forward to going again this year.

"The kids are so excited to see someone that isn't a mom or dad. It is someone that they can identify with," said Kardell. "They can do this someday."

The Totus Tuus host parishes arrange for the teachers to join families for dinner each evening. Someone also brings in lunch and snacks for the teachers each day. The whole parish community is involved.