Kairos

In 1999 Oakland Catholic added the option of a four-day retreat model for their juniors and seniors. The purpose for including this information on our website is twofold. The first aim is to let you know a little more about this particular retreat model and secondly to provide updated information and invitations to our Kairos alumni. (Alumni don’t miss WHAT”S NEW FOR KAIROS ALUMNI? Located at the end of the information section.)

Mission Statement of the Kairos Retreat

The Kairos Retreat aims to create an environment away, a moment in “God’s time”, in which participants may be awakened to the ever-present love of God. Each on of us is called to fullness as a person and closer intimacy with God. Kairos seeks to proclaim and make real this relationship, as well raise awareness of “God in all things”. Through peer ministry, participants experience Christian leadership, support, and community. They are invited to grow in understand of themselves and of how God “fits into” their lives. The retreat ends with a challenge to live Kairos on a daily basis for as long as possible. With the support of the community, each participant can more easily look inward and find true worth as a person and know the beauty of having deeper relationships with others and God.

Kairos Background Information

  • The “Christian Awakening” Program was developed in 1965 by Fr. Doug Brown. This program was modeled after the “Cursillo” and adapted for teenagers. Many high schools across the country adopted this senior retreat program.
  • In December 1975, Fr. Bob Colaresi and his associates participated in a “Christian Awakening” and adapted it, and the first Kairos was held in April 1976. Walsh Jesuit High School adapted this retreat over the last ten years (1988-98) to accommodate its junior and senior classes, maintaining the original intent of encouraging its students to set aside “the Lord’s time”.
  • August 1998, Oakland Catholic President, Mrs. Katherine Freyvogel, encouraged investigation of Kairos for possible application to retreats at Oakland Catholic. February 1999, then principal, Ms. Madeline Vincunas, along with Campus Minister, Ms. Karen Lehman and two students, Rebecca Freyvogel and Alexis Kowalecki went to Akron, Ohio to attend Walsh Jesuit High School Kairos #34. The impact of this style of retreat was a very positive one for the students and adults. August 1999, Oakland Catholic High School opened up the invitation to Central Catholic High School students also.
  • A basic human need is to be apart, alone, at times. A retreat experience is such an opportunity. This is true for adults and teenagers, as well. Thus, it is recommended that the retreat be outside, away from one’s normal environment, to truly be a Kairos, a moment in “the Lord’s time”.
  • Kairos is basically a religious program grounded in Christian incarnation theology. It is an experience of Christian community, with a series of talks given be peers and adults. Prayer and the sacraments are an essential part, as well as the participants’ involvement in discussions and various exercises. The program lasts three and a half days, with a ‘fourth day’ which strives to keep it alive indefinitely, as well as provide a supportive community for retreatants. The program should be implemented into the Religion program of the high school or parish. It should complement and flow from what has come before and be integrated into what follows.
  • It is not a cure of itself, but a deepening experience in one’s Christian life. The retreatant will not necessarily leave the program with a lot of answers, but hopefully will have a greater awareness of herself/himself, others, and the Lord.

Theology of Kairos

God’s love is visible and enfleshed. It was so in Jesus, the Son of God. We find it so in one another. The talks on Kairos are grounded on and centered around the revelation of God’s love to us, through all people and experiences of our lives. In accepting God’s love for us, we are gifted by the Spirit to go forth and proclaim it. In this context, the experience of prayer and the sacraments allows the retreatant to see his/her faith in a meaningful and vibrant way.

Each person has a ‘theology’ or personal history of life through which the Lord is calling him/her to fullness as a person and to closer intimacy with God and others. Kairos tries to proclaim, make real, and raise awareness of the Kingdom for which Jesus died. Peers complement the adult team by sharing their personal history and theology. This has been strongly recommended by Vatican II: “Young persons themselves ought to become the prime and direct apostles of youth, exercising the apostolate among themselves and through themselves, and reckoning with the social environment in which they live”.

Philosophy of Kairos

The purpose of Kairos is to allow the student to see the value of Christian faith lived and experienced in community. With the support of that community, the student can more easily look within and find his/her relationship with God and others.

Specific Goals

  1. To call the youth forth to life in faith; to be an active and vital member of the Church.
  2. To develop Christian leadership
  3. To help a student focus on where he/she is with himself/herself, others and God.
  4. To come to a personal understanding of how Christ fits into his/her life
  5. To afford the student the opportunity to experience both personal and communal prayer, the sacraments of the Eucharist, and Reconciliation.
  6. To enable the student to experience Christian community
  7. To have the student come to appreciate and value himself/herself as a young adult, as well as those people in his/her life, especially parents, relatives, friends who make life meaningful.

Psychology of Kairos

Peer pressure in the teenage years is extensive. Often young people feel pressured to do and say things they would not choose to do or say if not for the influence of ‘friends’. The retreat allows the student to examine life more freely, openly and honestly. We need to encounter each other. We need to share experience. The trusting atmosphere of the Christian community facilitates this need.

On Kairos, the following develop:

  1. There must be a willingness on the part of the retreatant to participate
  2. Because of the time together, a bond develops
  3. The retreatant becomes more receptive to other people, thus sharing more of who he/she is.
  4. He/she begins to share personal ideas
  5. Trusting, open relationships develop. This enhances a condition for positive change. Defense mechanisms break down. The retreatant can then explore himself/herself more freely.
  6. Community results. Persons begin to listen to one another. The discover identification, build up and self-affirmation, resulting in peace and joy.

What’s New for Kairos Alumni?

In this section of our website all current retreats will be announced, closing ceremony information given and upcoming get-togethers announced.