Kairos: God’s Time, 160 Retreats, and a Lasting Impact on Spartan Hearts

For any graduates of De La Salle starting from the early 2000’s, the word “Kairos” is well known around campus. Kairos refers to the three- or four-day retreat experience for seniors that serves to culminate their time at De La Salle. The name comes from one of the Greek words used to refer to time. “Chronos” time is its counterpart, referring to time that can be measured in minutes and seconds. “Kairos” is time that is measured by moments or experiences; it is time outside of time. For those who have been on a Kairos retreat, we refer to this as “God’s time.”

The Kairos retreat experience takes place in Catholic high schools all throughout the country. This retreat movement first started in the United States in the 1950’s, based on the Spanish “Cursillo” retreat movement. But how did Kairos come to De La Salle? The answer lies in an amazing pair of Campus Ministers--the Hassetts.

Roger and Mary Hassett came to De La Salle High School in the fall of 1996. They brought a vision for a vibrant Campus Ministry program, including a retreat for seniors that would lead a lasting impact on the participants. Through their investigations, they heard about the power of Kairos, and in 1999, they shadowed a Kairos retreat at Bellarmine High School. They were convinced that this retreat needed to come to De La Salle High School. So on January 25, 2000, the first Kairos retreat was held for our De La Salle students. And this year, as we celebrate our 60th anniversary of opening the school, we just concluded Kairos #160!

Over 5,500 Spartan lives have been touched by the Kairos retreat experience. The young men who return from their Kairos retreat always reflect on the love that they have experienced from their fellow Spartan brothers. They come home with new insights about who they are and where their faith journey has taken them. Delcan Spicer ‘25 remarks: “Kairos is a time for us, as seniors, to reflect not only on ourselves and our faith, but also on how our actions have impacted others in our daily lives. In many ways, Kairos serves as the capstone of our faith journey as Spartans and as men of Faith.”

The impact of Kairos is not just limited to the retreat experience itself. Participants on Kairos are challenged to “Live the Fourth,” or to live out what they have experienced on this Kairos retreat. Many Kairos participants have taken that challenge to heart and strive each day to continue to live out what they experienced from their Kairos experience. Anthony McLennan ‘01 remarks: “Kairos holds a special place in my heart. The lesson learned there for me…I shared an experience of God through others…After 25 years, I am still able to go back and talk to my fellow brothers, Lasallian friends, to reach back and gain support, catch up, learn what is going on in their life, and share my story.” 

Here’s to Kairos #160 on this 60th anniversary of our school. And we look forward to many more lives and hearts being touched by our Kairos retreat! Live the Fourth!!

Kairos Video Testimonials (Click on the name below to view the Alumni Testimonial about his Kairos experience)