Checking Out and Checking In

By Bill Kroenung - AMHS Retreat Coordinator

When senior Connor Gambelin handed his cell phone to his Kairos leader in November, he felt a sense of relief. Giving up a phone has long been a Mitty retreat tradition meant to give students more of a chance to bond with each other, without distractions from the outside world. This fall, detaching from screens had a particularly unique feel to it, as students have been spending their entire day on Zoom after the pandemic closed campuses across the nation and moved schools into distance learning. Even though students had to remain socially distanced during the Kairos Retreat, which included some time on campus and in the chapel in small groups, students were still able to forge connections in a way that might not have been possible over Zoom.

“Kairos was an amazing experience because it gave me the chance to step away from the stresses of social media and enjoy a couple days building relationships with new people,”

Gambelin said. Letting go of a phone is an important first step for all students participating in school retreats. It’s the start of a process of leaving behind the burdens of social media, texts, emails, and calendar notifications. Checking out from all of this noise, which fills our daily lives, allows us different opportunities to check in with God through scripture and reflection. Retreats, at their core, allow students to see God in scripture. Freshmen read the parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30) and explore how faith grows exponentially. Sophomores apply the words of Saint Paul about faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13) to their friends and families. Juniors seek to join Jesus on the road, just as the blind beggar Bartimaeus did (Mark 10:46). Seniors look for signs of God’s unconditional love, using Jesus’ story of a man with two lost sons (Luke 15:11). Members of the faculty and senior leaders read each of these passages and share personal stories that connect to them. Students

participating in retreats are called to do the same. Throughout their four years, students ask: “In what ways is God helping me grow into a more loving person? How can I love myself and others unconditionally? What do I want God to do for me? Can I accept God’s unconditional love, despite all of my mistakes?” A variety of spiritual tools are used to help students address these questions and discover their “ Kairos was an amazing experience most authentic selves. After each talk, students are asked to journal, discuss in small groups, and take because it gave me the chance to step walks with a journey partner. away from the stresses of social media Sophomores make papier-mâché and enjoy a couple days building relationships with new people. masks as part of an activity that allows them to examine the ways in which they sometimes fail to let ” their authentic selves shine. Juniors walk a labyrinth, using a 42-foot reproduction of the one found in Chartres Cathedral in France. Students also check-in by creating meaningful bonds with classmates in ways which the normal school day doesn’t always provide. Each student is placed in a small group of approximately eight students led by a senior leader, who creates a safe space for sharing and community. These discussions are combined with time for fun and laughter, important parts of every retreat and spiritual journey. Alumni of all ages come back to help lead retreats and share what they learned. This November, six members of the Class of 2020 returned to be part of the leadership team. Monarch Mia Apodaca ’20 was one of the leaders.

“Looking back, our retreats allow us to reflect on who I

was and allow us to see the gifts God gave us,” Apodaca said.

“We all grow in confidence and faith.”

The high participation in school retreats illustrates the continued need for opportunities to check out from daily distractions and check in to our most authentic selves. After Kairos ended, Gambelin checked back into his phone, more refreshed and knowing himself, and God, better than he did just a few days before.

Monarchs handed in their phones, so they could focus on growing closer to God and each other. Students gathered in a socially-distanced manner in the chapel, classrooms, and outdoors.