Carroll teen on fire with the faith

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 26, 2006

CARROLL - The faith of a 2007 graduate of Kuemper High School has ignited as a result of a couple summer programs for youth - one being Totus Tuus.

Jen Lawler pointed out that her faith was on fire after returning from a recent Steubenville Conference. Then she had the opportunity to turn the flame up another notch.

"That night we got back from Steubenville, we were all on the bus and Scott Steffen came because usually he goes on the trip. He called and said to stay on the bus because he wanted to come to say hi to everyone," recalled the parishioner of Holy Spirit Parish.

The high school students thought Steffen was just going to say hello and inquire about the trip, but he had an ulterior motive as he brought visitors who had a message. Two Totus Tuus teachers got on the bus, too, and spoke about the summer catechetical program that was being held in Carroll that week. They urged the teens to attend.

"I was talking to some other friends from Steubenville and we thought we would go to try to keep up what we had over the weekend," said Lawler. In addition, she was drawn to Totus Tuus by the enthusiasm of the college-age program facilitators.

She went into Totus Tuus without knowing much about the program.

"It was more than I expected," she said.

While the program runs Sunday through Thursday for the older students, she missed the first night as they didn't get back from the Steubenville Conference until about 11:30 p.m.

Monday night's session of Totus Tuus centered on chastity.

"We received all of the information we wanted and we were able to ask any questions that we wanted," said Lawler, who will attend Creighton University this fall to study pre-med. "Then we also had fun with it and were able to talk about our own experiences."

Along with the talks, they experienced different forms of prayer, including Eucharistic adoration.

She said it helped to know that there are other young people who "are totally for God and into their faith and not afraid to show it. That is one of the things I worry about in going to college - losing my faith and not being able to find people to talk to."

Coming back from the Steubenville Conference, Lawler mentioned that she was thinking she wanted to volunteer next summer as a Young Apostle through Steubenville, but after attending Totus Tuus she has switched gears. Now she wants to try to become a teacher for Totus Tuus.

"They are really good about getting to the teenage level so that we can understand things," noted Lawler, who is a lector and eucharistic minister in her parish. "They are open for any questions and you feel very comfortable with them."

With Totus Tuus junior and senior high students participate in the program at night and grade school students attend a program during the day.

Totus Tuus has already been presented in nine parishes throughout the diocese. Two sessions remain this coming week July 29-Aug. 3 with Fort Dodge and Larchwood hosting the catechetical program.

Mark Thomason, diocesan director of catechesis, evangelization and R.C.I.A., said he would especially encourage high school students to attend because for many this program offers something many have never had an opportunity to participate in - adoration and straight-forward talks from college students.

"They present really solid talks about the church and what we believe - things especially relevant for youth and youth people," he said. "The high school kids who take the chance and try it out, all seem to love it. The big thing with the high school kids is that they have to give it a shot. If they don't try it, they'll never know."

He knows that it has a strong impact on young adults because when he was learning about this program in other dioceses, many of the current teachers had participated in the program as students.

Lawler encouraged other high school students to attend.

"It doesn't matter where you are in your faith," she said. "Totus Tuus can help you in some way and answer questions that you have. If they (the facilitators) don't know the answer, they will find out. Everyone should try to go and experience it for themselves."