The Kairos Experience: My Senior Retreat
At the conclusion of last week, a few of my classmates and I participated in our Senior Retreat, hosted by San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch.
Throughout the week, I was looking forward to escaping the stresses of everyday life. Retreat on Thursday and Friday, no school after the Super Bowl, five-day weekend, life is good. I went to bed Wednesday night excited for the next two days, hoping to take as much out of the retreat as possible.
I woke up on Thursday morning later than normal, 7:40 a.m to be exact. We did not have to be at the retreat house until 9, so I was going to soak up as much extra sleep as possible. I got up, showered, ate a big breakfast, packed a small bag, and headed off to the beach.
I pulled into the complex to a great view of the ocean. The scenic view was one of my favorite parts of the retreat. After parking the car, I walked in to a smiling Mr. Meehan to greet me. He had me drop my stuff across the room and head into the cafeteria for breakfast. There, I met my friends at the first table in sight.
At 9:30, we moved into the main conference room to hear Father John Collins and Mr. Meehan discuss the background of the Kairos retreat. Mr. Meehan explained how Kairos is Greek for “time with God.” He encouraged us to use this time to disconnect and reflect on the past, present, and future of our lives.
The rest of the day was filled with a combination of keynote speakers, small group reflections, and free time outside by the ocean.
Mr. Meehan was the first keynote speaker. His talk centered around how God is fulfilling. He used personal examples to express to us that while life is difficult, God shows his love for us by filling the voids of what we do not have. It made me realize the importance of looking at the glass half-full and always recognizing the silver linings that come with hardship.
Mrs. Meehan was the next keynote speaker. Her main message was the importance of not passing judgment, as we never truly know what other people are dealing with. Similarly to Mr. Meehan, she shared specific examples from her life.
The small group discussions were led by different chaperones, mine being Mr. Saverino. Saverino, a member of the Class of 2010, was great to have in the small groups. He shared his experiences as a student at CBA and the University of Scranton.
Lastly, Mr. Cusick spoke after dinner. The focal point of his speech was knowing yourself and aiming to find your stride in college. He went through his life story from when he was a boy in middle school, to high school years, college experiences, and family life. The good and the not-so-good of all of it. He frequently had the group laughing, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.
After some downtime and Reconciliation in the Chapel, we watched The Way, the chaperones’ film of choice, participated in evening prayer, and went to sleep.
Some began the next morning on the earlier side by watching the sunset, while others used the retreat to catch up on some sleep. Everyone gathered in the Chapel for morning prayer, then headed to the cafeteria for breakfast. After a great meal, we enjoyed the warm weather more for about an hour.
The retreat concluded with the watching the rest of the movie along with a group-wide mass in the Chapel led by Father John.
Overall, the retreat was much more than just a break from everyday life. It allowed me to appreciate the past four years and the growth that I’ve experienced in so many different aspects of my life. It was a reminder to enjoy every minute I have left at CBA with the friends that I have made. I left the retreat feeling extremely zen and thankful for the opportunity to go. I hope that those below me are able to embrace the message of their Senior Retreats in the upcoming years as I have.
