The annual Kairos Retreat commenced on September 24th in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth and concludes on the 27th in the Boys’ Chapel in Clongowes. This is the 15th year of the Kairos model, which originally took place in Clongowes during the first school break, but for the past three years has chosen St. Patrick’s College as its venue.
Forty-one Poetry students and eight Rhetoric leaders are engaged in this worthwhile experience of Christian community, with a series of talks delivered by the Rhetoric students and adults. Prayer and the sacraments are an essential part, as are the retreatants’ involvement in discussions and various exercises.
The retreat is a three and a half-day programme, which offers a challenge to continue it for as long as one possibly can. It assumes a follow-up programme (Fourth Day), which strives to keep it alive indefinitely, as well as provide a supportive community for the retreatants.
The purpose of the Kairos Retreat is to allow the students to see the value of their Christian faith as lived and experienced in a community; they can more easily look within themselves to find their true worth as a people; to reflect on their relationships with others and ultimately with God.
We pray that the retreatants will see the value of their faith lived out through the community, with the support of the team, their peers and the adults on board and that they will be able to fulfil their mission on this earth to the best of their ability.
Ms Mary Maume