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Named for the Greek term meaning, "The Lord's Time", Kairos is a nation-wide spiritual growth program. It is not originally a Jesuit retreat per se. It was adapted from the Roman Catholic Cursillo program, which was begun in Spain in 1944. Cursillo was adapted for youth by the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1965. Kairos made its main inroad into Jesuit circles when faculty at St. Ignatius HS in Chicago further adapted the retreat soon after, incorporating more specifically Ignatian elements and language. It has also been formed into a prison ministry movement. Just as did the original Cursillo programme from which it is derived, Kairos incorporates several fundamentals of Ignatian spirituality, with a strong influence from the Spiritual Exercises. Most Jesuit high schools and colleges in the United States and Canada now centre their retreat programmes around various adaptations of Kairos, retaining the basic structure and core elements of the retreat. The distinctive Jerusalem Cross has become associated with this experience, and alumni of the program often wear it, though some schools utilize different crosses. Kairos came to Brebeuf in March, 2009 in conjunction with Canisius High School, a Jesuit school in Buffalo, New York. This arose through the work of Chris Krall S.J., a Jesuit scholastic and volunteer at Brebeuf, who arranged the contact between Brebeuf and Canisius and encouraged the project from the start. At Canisius, Father Fred Betti S.J. and Paul Cumbo graciously hosted the Brebeuf contingent and provided invaluable support and advice for Brebeuf. The staff who attended the Canisius retreat in Buffalo were Eamonn Jenkins, Eric Guy ’82, and David DiMauro. Staff support and organization was provided by Michael Da Costa ’92. The Grade 11 retreatants and first Brebeufians to experience Kairos were: Timothy Keslick, Evan Kalentzis, Aaron Kim, Atta Almasi, Luc Rinaldi, Ajay Da Costa. Kairos Committee 2009: Rev. L. Altilia S.J., C. Crall S.J., M. Da Costa, S. DeMiglio, D. DiMauro, R. Gregoris, E. Guy, E. Jenkins, Br. H. Spencer F.P.M.
(Above) Brebeuf's first Kairos Retreatants with Canisus High School (Buffalo) at Cradle Beach, N.Y. in March, 2009. |
