“We walk around campus, and even come face to face with other students, but only see them as students. We don’t always pay attention to the fact that there is a story behind each face, which yearns to be a part of something that is genuine, loving and greater than itself. Kairos is where students go beyond viewing each other as students but rather as people, then inevitably grow into a support system and a family,” Kairos leader Pierre Eliezer said.

Many Iona students have heard about Kairos, but what exactly is it? Yes, it is a retreat, but what else is there to it? Although Kairos participants cannot share specific details about Kairos, we can guarantee that anyone can go into Kairos and come out feeling like a brand new person. Kairos is more than just a retreat: it’s an unforgettable experience that opens the doors to new relationships, getting to know yourself and others and changing your way of living life for the better.  Kairos provides students the opportunity to build long lasting bonds and to build a sense of community. Once you go to Kairos, you’ll look for any opportunity to go back.

Before participating in Kairos, I was a shy commuter student who had very few friends. I hardly got involved in any activities, and I would spend most of my time in Ryan Library, getting work done all alone. One of my only friends at Iona introduced me to Kairos and told me what a great experience it was for her; she also suggested that I sign up. I signed up, although I was skeptical about going on a retreat.  No one would tell me any details about what would go on, but they guaranteed that I would enjoy the experience.

In the days leading up to Kairos, I was very nervous and excited; I couldn’t wait to see what I had signed up for. My experience in Kairos was more than what I had expected. I met so many new people that were from different religious and ethnic backgrounds; I now call them my Kairos Family.

In just one weekend, we went from being strangers to being a family. I am still a bit shy, but I come to Iona every day knowing that I’ll see one of my Kairos family members and finally feel like I fit in.  I built long lasting bonds, and I know that here at Iona there’s more than one person I can relate to and spend time with.

Students who have experienced Kairos would agree in saying that Kairos is an amazing opportunity.

“I went on the Kairos Retreat Weekend this April. Kairos was a wonderful experience that I feel everyone should take part in. You make so many new friends and learn so much while you’re there and it truly stays with you for the rest of your life,” Kairos participant Kellianne O’Connor said.

“Kairos is a unique and exciting experience that I have had the honor of participating in for two years now. Kairos came at the perfect time for me this year and led me to great new friends and a better understanding of who I am,” Kairos leader Lauren Zanfardino said.

“For me Kairos was a welcoming change of pace, a time where the world stopped and life was experience,” participant Christopher Harris said. “Its something beyond words something almost other worldly about it. Experiencing is the only way to truly understand.”

For each of these students, including myself, Kairos was an unforgettable, life changing experience. You still might say this is a retreat, but we say it’s way more than that.

Kairos is a place where you are shown unconditional love and acceptance from complete strangers. These complete strangers then turn into your family and just like your own family, these people will stick by your side always and forever. Whether you’ve been on retreats before or not, you should definitely look into the Kairos retreat. The Kairos family welcomes you with open arms.