Kairos Makes a Spiritual Mark on Delone Catholic

by Tara Noel

Have you ever really reflected on your relationship with God or recognized the highs and lows of your life? At the Kairos retreat this is just what you do. And students come back changed. These students undergo a spiritual journey with their fellow classmates. In “God’s Time” you can find the presence of God in your life and strengthen that bond.

Mrs. Katherine Phenicie, Delone Catholic Spiritual Life Director, started this retreat ten years ago when she came to Delone. Her own experience at a Kairos retreat inspired her to continue it here.

“When I was a Sophomore at Mount St. Mary's I attended their Kairos retreat, and it was really powerful for me,” explained Mrs. Phenicie. “I knew that I wanted to bring that same experience here when I became the Director of Spiritual Life, so that our students could have a similarly powerful experience.”

Over these ten years, Phenicie has seen an increase in participation of Spiritual Life events after students come back from Kairos. “I think students are encouraged by the knowledge that they are not alone; they are not the only ones who are working on following Christ and want to be a disciple.”

But the most important part of Kairos is how it affects those attending. Neha Shijo, a senior and core team member, explained, “The impacts on my friendships, familial relationships, the perception of God in my life, and even defining my own purpose have been monumental.”

“Knowing and experiencing the effects of Kairos firsthand is what really gave me the passion and drive to serve to the absolute best of my abilities as a Core Team member this year,” Shijo continued.

A shift seems to occurs for students after attending the retreat. Senior Rachel Swingler, also a core team member, experienced such a turning point.

“After Kairos IX and X, Delone completely changed,” noted Swingler. “I found true friends that would do anything for me and adopted new respect for all of the people I go to school with. I look forward to school so I can see the people that care for me the most and bring me closer to God.”

The retreat shows students that God is very present in our lives even through the rough patches. Daniel Sweeney, who attended both Kairos IX and X, commented, “ I always tended to be more individual about things, especially my faith, but the Kairos retreat, and leading the retreat itself, illustrates the fact that it is okay to depend on God as someone who loves you.”

Leading Kairos and seeing the joy coming out of others’ experiences is most inspiring. Mrs. Phenicie explained, “It is a true privilege and honor to get to witness the students grow in their relationships with God. I am always so humbled that God has chosen me to be an instrument of his grace in this way.”

Shijo reiterated this sentiment, stating, “For someone unsure about whether to attend, I would tell them that they have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.”

“If you have even the slightest feeling that you should go on Kairos, just sign up. God is calling you to experience something life-changing,” Swingler added.

So, as Kairos X has just ended in its short but monumental weekend, let the words of people who have been changed by Kairos guide you in signing up for the next Kairos in 2020. As Shijo puts it, “ I promise you it will be worth it.”

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