On Aug. 22- 24, I, along with 41 other seniors, went on the Gibbons Kairos retreat.
Kairos is a well-known experience found in many Catholic schools, designed to help students deepen their faith, build relationships, and grow as individuals.
Beyond the heartfelt moments, the Kairos leaders had planned, Kairos brought me back to a different time in my life. It reminded me of kindergarten and elementary school. On Kairos, we were all friends – we talked openly, played outside, and sang together despite our different friend “circles.” Meanwhile, the absence of our phones brought out child-like creativity.
Throughout my time there, I loved just taking a moment to observe everything around me while my peers were busy at work.
A few individuals played guitar, while beautiful voices sang hymns as people gathered around them, drawn to the beautiful music of God.
People who had never hung out, let alone smiled at each other in the hallway, were playing nine square.
Others found quiet places to sit alone and soak in what had happened earlier that day.
I saw good, and I saw God, in everyone.
Before walking into the retreat, I had my own assumptions and stereotypes.
I thought some were mean or “stuck up” because of who their friends were or rumors I’d overheard, but I was proven wrong. Or, in some cases, maybe people had been mean, and I learned they were struggling with something during that time, something bigger than them.
I learned my peers were not so different from me, all with their own story and hidden struggle. While people say this, it can be hard to believe sometimes. Everyone has their own insecurities and struggles unique to them. You may think someone’s life looks perfect, but we all have something we carry around.
Ms. Anders: The Face Behind Kairos
Crista Anders, director of Kairos, has organized Gibbons Kairos retreats for 17 years, and before that in Philadelphia. To my surprise, Kairos isn’t unique to Gibbons — it’s nationwide. While each school adds its own spin, one thing remains the same: its ultimate purpose is to bring people closer to Jesus.
Ms. Anders has directed 84 of the 88 Kairos retreats in total, all unique in their own way.
“People ask me if I have a favorite, but I always say no because every Kairos is different. The programming is the same, but the people make it new,” Anders said.
Before her time in Spiritual Life, a priest once gave Ms. Anders advice she still carries with her.
“He told me, ‘We’re in a vocation, where we’ll never know the impact of what we do. All we can do is plant the seed. We never know if we’re planting the seed, watering it, or seeing the flowers grow. We never know what part of their life we’re coming into.”
That’s the beauty of Kairos — no two experiences are alike. Kairos looks different to everyone. Some might have an enriched relationship with God, and others may be meeting Him for the first time.
“Everyone is going into Kairos for different reasons. Maybe they have things together and are in a good place, and God is their best friend. Maybe they are struggling to see God.,” said Anders.
No matter what stage of life someone is in, Kairos offers something we all crave: belonging.
We form friendships with faces we’ve only ever passed in the hallways, or deepen a relationship with a friend you didn’t know as well as you thought.
“People crave belonging. Even for a weekend, Kairos gives that. And hopefully, it carries back into school and you feel more a part of the class. Before Kairos, you walk around in black-and-white, and after Kairos, there’s pops of color,” Anders said.
Kairos is truly unlike any other retreat, and I would recommend it to every senior.
At times, it may feel awkward sharing your life with people you don’t know very well, but it is worth it.
It opens your eyes, not just to faith, but to the hidden beauty in the people around you. Sign up here.
