Retreat. It’s a simple word, holding a plethora of meaning. As a verb, it means to “move back” or “leave,” and as a noun, it signifies a “sanctuary.” Retreats in the institutionalized setting therefore are meant to allow students to take a break and withdraw from the confines of daily life.

Within the Catholic high school experience, it is common that students will experience at least one. At Notre Dame Academy, students must attend the freshman retreat as well as the mandatory senior retreat; yet, what about in between?

Campus Ministry offers the optional social justice trip for sophomores, and new for juniors and seniors starting this year, Campus Ministry is offering the Kairos retreat which will be a different type of retreat in comparison to those to which students are accustomed.

Michael Lagerman, junior here at Notre Dame Academy, said he is considering attending the Kairos retreat. Although students are not expressing too much interest in the Kairos retreat at this point, he thinks the student body, as a whole, respect the retreats led by Notre Dame.  

“The student body realizes the importance of retreats and respects them for the growing opportunities of relationships with classmates and with God,” said Lagerman.

The retreat will be led by Sister Laura Zelten and the Spiritus team, which is a praise and worship group from Mount Tabor.  They will be following the Kairos retreat format used within other schools in Wisconsin; therefore, it will be more than a Notre Dame Academy retreat.

So, what is the Kairos retreat and why should a student consider participating?

Kairos comes from a Greek word relating to “God’s time,” or “time to be filled,” and students who have gone on a Kairos retreat have done nothing but rave about it.

Matt MacDonald,  a senior at Marquette University High School (MUHS) in Milwaukee, is in the top of his class, a member of Key Club, which is a service organization, National Honor Society, and both the lacrosse and hockey teams. Even with all his activities, he said he made time for it because “I realized it was a bigger priority for me than some of my other activities and I really wanted to see what the retreat was about.  And although when I came back I had a lot to catch up on, I would do it all again without thinking twice.”

           
Through the Kairos retreat, MacDonald had the opportunity to not only strengthen his relationship with God, but also with his fellow classmates.   MacDonald said, “Kairos really made me realize how busy our lives can be and that we need to find a time to take a break and focus on our faith.”

While on retreat, he gained a lot of insight and shared that “one of the most important things that I have taken from the retreat is not to take things like faith and friendships for granted and to strive not to judge anyone before getting to know them.  There were so many experiences in my classmates’ lives that I had no idea they had gone through and it changed my thoughts on many of my peers.”

Learning that NDA is giving students the opportunity for the first time to experience the unique retreat with their classmates, Macdonald said, “I would strongly encourage students to go on Kairos.  Kairos was without a doubt the most meaningful retreat experience I have ever had and one of, if not, the most influential religious and class-bonding experiences.”

As for advice, MacDonald suggests going into the retreat with an open mind. “Some things may be out of your comfort zone, but the more willing you are to participate in all activities on the retreat the more you will get out of the whole experience.”

John Brennan, also a senior at MUHS, participated in the Kairos retreat. According to Brennan, approximately 70% of the MUHS seniors participate on the optional retreat, and students can choose one of the five times to participate in the retreat during their high school career. Brennan said there is a motto that students should have about Kairos: “Don’t anticipate, participate.”  Rather than thinking about what is coming, Brennan said you should think solely what is going on is going on in that moment while on the retreat.

Initially the Kairos retreat was not always well attended at MUHS. Brennan said Kairos retreats were held for the first time at MUHS 19 years ago, and during the first couple years, the retreat only had 8 attendees. Brennan also emphasized, “Kairos is a phenomenal retreat, and I highly recommend that anyone reading this newspaper article experience it.”

Lastly, Kevin Fink, senior at MUHS and President of Students for Social Responsibility, a social justice awareness group based around service,  is also a member of the freshman retreat planning committee, and starting quarterback for the MUHS team.  Fink decided to go on the Kairos retreat and talked about the secret component.  Fink said, “It’s not like any other retreat. Because of that, the experience is so great. You have no idea what to expect.”

As for the activities that make the retreat so great, Fink said, “I can’t tell you anything. It was life-changing for me and for everyone else I have talked to” Going into the retreat, Fink said he was not with his close friends and did not know anyone in his small group. After the retreat, however, he said, “We were like brothers.”  He said probably half of the MUHS football team went on the retreat and they even ended practice early to make it for the closing Kairos ceremony one day. MUHS won the WIAA state championship title this past fall. For anyone considering partaking in the retreat, Fink urged, “Take the risk because you won’t regret it.”

The Notre Dame Academy-sponsored Kairos retreat will be held at Camp Tekawitha on Loon Lake in Shawano County. Sister Laura Zelten, campus minister, looks forward to the retreat and said the retreat is bringing something new to the Notre Dame Academy community.

“We are looking to help our students bond together and grow in faith,” stressed Sr. Laura.

Students signed up to participate will leave school by bus on Wednesday, April 21, at 1:30 and will return to NDA on Friday, April 23, at 2 p.m. Students are still able to sign up. If students have any questions or would like to sign up, they should contact Sister Laura. The cost of the retreat is $70.