Pictured are the Totus Tuus 2018 team members. They are, (front, from left) Haley Arndt, Maysel Giebel, CJ Kallevig and Emily Kling, (back from left) Brandan Kalsow, Charles Luke, Dan Tracy and Robbie Simon. (Submitted photo)

Bryn Rademaker
Diocese of Superior Bishop Hammes Center Intern 2018
Special to the Catholic Herald

The following are brief introductions to the 2018 Totus Tuus team.

Haley Arndt
Favorite Saint: St. John Paul II
Haley is a joyful second-year Totus Tuus missionary from Merrill. Going into her senior year at UW—Stevens Point, she is studying psychology with a minor in communications and religious studies. She has served as an RA at college, saying she enjoyed witnessing the growth of her students throughout the year. Haley felt God’s tug on her heart to serve for a second summer as a member of the Totus Tuus team. He reminded her how much she really loved her 2017 experience, especially the amazing children, parishioners and teammates she worked with.

Maysel Giebel
Favorite Saint: St. Rose of Lima
Maysel is from Hudson in a devoted Catholic family with 10 other siblings. She just completed her first year at St. Thomas University, St. Paul, Minnesota, studying psychology and Catholic Studies with a minor in philosophy. Her passion for reading is clearly expressed by her deep wisdom and knowledge of the faith, literature, and many other topics. Having attended and volunteered for the Totus Tuus program in the past, Maysel desired to be a part of the mission team and was encouraged by her youth ministers to share her wisdom and talents with other children similar to her younger siblings.

Dan Tracy
Favorite Saint: Blessed Solanus Casey
Dan grew up in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior. Before his current studies of theology at St. Francis de Sales Seminary, St. Francis, he attended undergraduate school at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, and graduated with a master’s degree from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, then served as a FOCUS missionary (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students) for a few years before discerning the priesthood. Dan’s burning passion for evangelization is evident throughout his life, and he is looking forward to knowing and loving the beloved people of the diocese as an alumni. He also strives to share the common experience of value and friendship that the young priests have had throughout the years serving as Totus Tuus missionaries.

Charles Luke
Favorite Saint: St. John Paul II
Charles is going into his senior year at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, studying philosophy and theology. Originally from Kohler, he is serving in the diocese for the second summer in a row. His favorite part of last summer as a Totus Tuus missionary was spending time at each parish and witnessing their incredible differences. Charles has chosen to return because his experience last summer was incredibly formative, not to mention a ton of fun. Charles is back after a transforming semester abroad in Austria.

CJ Kallevig
Favorite Saint: St. Michael the Archangel
CJ grew up in Kandiyohi, Minnesota, and recently graduated from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, with a degree in English language and literature. Newly Catholic as of Easter 2017, CJ has embraced her new identity by serving her campus through leading a Bible study and welcoming everyone into the Newman Center community with open arms. She has felt called to mission since childhood, specifically through living in Africa for one year with her missionary parents and nine other siblings. CJ was led to Totus Tuus through searching for opportunities of mission after graduation.

Brandan Kalsow
Favorite Saint: St. Maximillian Kolbe
Brandan is a computer science major with an economics minor at St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota. Growing up in Hudson, he has volunteered multiple years for their Totus Tuus program, eventually feeling drawn to dedicate his summer to serve with other parishes in the diocese. He was also influenced by a few priests and parishioners to say “yes” to the adventure when they saw his love and interest in the Liturgy of the Hours.

Emily Kling
Favorite Saint: St. Therese of Lisieux
Emily was born and raised in the Catholic School program in New Richmond. She is studying theology (and minoring in biology) at St. Benedict’s University, St. Joseph, Minnesota. She enjoys learning about how the Lord works in the lives of his people. She chose to serve as a Totus Tuus missionary this summer because of her deep belief in the importance of solid catechesis. She desires to bring fun, fruitful, and loving knowledge of Christ to the youth and hopes to help their formation from a young age.

Robbie Simon
Favorite Saint: St. Joseph
Robbie comes to the diocese from Redando Beach, California, and is prepared for his “summer of self-gift.” He is a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, studying theology and philosophy. His passion for practicing and loving his Catholic faith through prayer and the sacraments is extremely apparent, something he wouldn’t be able to live without. Robbie desires to provide the youth with a quality Catholic formation and catechesis since he did not have great opportunities to do so growing up; he hopes that the children can grasp what a gift the faith is in order to understand their identities in Christ.