This past week, from March 25-28, a portion of the senior and junior classes embarked on the Kairos retreat. This retreat occurs twice a school year: once in the fall and once in the spring. It is open to all seniors, and the spring Kairos is open to juniors who are interested in becoming a leader for their senior retreat in the fall.
This year, the retreat took place at the San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the beautiful landscape and architecture surrounding the Mission. We were shown our rooms and our roommates were revealed to us, which was an exciting experience. Following this, we were taken to the main room, where the objective of Kairos and the rules of the mission were explained to us to make sure we maintained it properly.
I cannot say too much about the retreat itself because it is a sacred and secret tradition, but I can reflect on what it meant for me. The “saying” for each day of Kairos is: “Doubt the first, Cry the Second, Trust the third, and Live the fourth,” an objective I could truly say my experience at Kairos truly lived up to.
We began each day with Mass, and starting every day in God’s presence was truly fulfilling and prepared me for the day ahead. On the first day, we were skeptical because we didn’t know what to expect, but our adult leaders and student leaders made sure we were comfortable with our small groups and the entire group as a whole. Senior Alexis Bordwell, a student leader, stated, “It was truly so inspirational and perspectival seeing how these amazing girls changed. Witnessing how impactful the talks were and seeing friendships be made or restored was truly special: Kairos 68 was truly one of a kind. I am truly beyond blessed that I got to lead the girls in group 1, AKA Alexis’ Alphas.”
The second day was an emotional one to say the least, but definitely one of my favorites. The third day truly lived up to “Trust the third” as we spent considerable time with our small groups and Jesus, learning to trust our peers. When asked about Kairos, Senior Ava Barretto highlights the third day as she stated: “My favorite day of Kairos was day 3. This day was so special to me because that was the day I noticed a change in my faith. Adoration is when I felt at peace and close to God.” The fourth day was spent cherishing our last unique moments of this retreat alongside Jesus, our peers and nature.
Overall, Kairos was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I cherished the time spent with my peers. It was important for me to be open with my small group during such a chaotic time in my life. Letting go of my worries and opening my heart to God while being in His presence truly enhanced the retreat. If I have any advice for those attending Kairos, it would be to enter with an open mind and an open heart. Remember, you get out of the retreat what you put into it.
