Kairos. Almost all students on Fairfield’s campus have heard this word. Whether violently opposed or powerfully in favor, Kairos seems to spark an emotional reaction in Fairfield students.
“When I came back from Kairos, I was a member of a large community,” Ashley Rowe, ’11, said. “That community is so supportive and introduced me [to] amazing people I otherwise would not have met. They helped me accept myself, faults and all, and become the person I have always wanted to be.”
Others oppose this view. When the retreats conclude, complaints about “secrets,” “cults,” and “Kai High” can often be heard from those who did not partake.
“I’ve yet to go on Kairos in college,” said Gabriella Tutino “but it seems to me that it creates an intense bond between people that do go. This is not a bad thing in the least. But if you’re not on the same retreat as your friend, when he or she returns, you feel a bit neglected, since those who did go seem to have only eyes for each other.”
Many students are told that Kairos is a retreat that has a secret. Some students even think that Kairos is some sort of secret organization. But how many can actually explain what it really entails? Campus Minister and Retreat Coordinator, Kevin Donohue, and student coordinator, Colleen Wilson, have something different to say on the matter.
Donohue, a Fairfield graduate, helps organize the various retreats for Fairfield students. “There seems to be a persistent misconception that Kairos is some sort of a ‘Secret Society,’” he said. He also professes that the reason for the secrecy is not to exclude people, but to encourage them to attend the retreat themselves. He believes most central elements of the retreat are best experienced personally, instead of being recounted through word of mouth.
He said that, “Kairos is a weekend long retreat grounded in the spirituality of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits. Kairos has a Catholic orientation, but individuals from all religious traditions are welcome to attend. For instance, when I was a student at Fairfield, a Muslim friend of mine took part in Kairos and loved it.”
Colleen Wilson ’11, agrees with Donohue. “This retreat is all that you make it and the religious aspect can play as little or as big of a role as you would like. Over the three days, you are broken into small groups and provided with opportunities to get to know one another on a deeper level. The retreat can be a moving experience allowing students to take a step back and reflect on their lives.”
Based on the number of people who sign-up for Kairos, there is a high level of interest in this retreat. Donohue is thankful for all the students who are interested in the program but states, “This is a mixed blessing, because while we are pleased that so many students want to participate, there aren’t enough spaces to accommodate everyone who wants to come.”
Kairos is also not unique to the Fairfield campus. Many other Catholic schools have their own Kairos retreat programs. Donohue states that, “Many Jesuit Universities and High Schools have the Kairos retreat. I first did Kairos as a high school student at Scranton Prep. With that said, every school has its own unique style and individual emphasis, so Kairos isn’t the same at any two places.”
Even if students have participated in a Kairos retreat in high school, the staff at Campus Ministry does not want them to turn away from the Kairos experience at Fairfield. They state that each and every Kairos retreat is different based on the students that participate and the subsequent interaction and spiritual learning that takes place.
Wilson says, “Kairos is an extremely special and unique experience, as one participant calls it, ‘a celebration of humanity.’ It means something different to each person that attends, but is an experience that stays with many long after the retreat ends.”
Campus Ministry and the student coordinators for Kairos are trying to put an end to the preconceived notion that Kairos is an exclusive, secretive retreat for only the deeply religious. They want to spread the word that Kairos is a retreat for open-minded students looking to engage in a weekend-long self and spiritual discovery.
At Fairfield, interest in Kairos has generally always been high. Each retreat attracts about thirty-five participants and is run entirely by their fellow students.
“My main responsibility in putting on a Kairos retreat is facilitating the student leaders,” said Donohue. “Students have ownership over the experience. I think that helps it to have special resonance with other students. It’s one of the reasons I think individuals have such a powerful experience on the retreat.”
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