A Kairos Reflection

Pictured: Joe Feder ‘19 (third from right) at Kairos Retreat at Kings House in May 2019.

BY JOE FEDER ‘19 SOPHOMORE AT SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

During my Senior year at SLUH, I was lucky enough to lead a Kairos retreat. In fact, leading Kairos 90 was one of the most important and influential parts of my high school experience – aside from going on the retreat earlier in the year. For a month leading up to the retreat, eight student leaders would spend hours writing talks alongside faculty mentors, being formed as leaders, and practicing giving their talks to close friends. It was this formational leadership and intentionally cultivated brotherhood that became the driving force behind our Kairos retreat, and made it such a beautiful four days.

The preparation for the Kairos that took place just a few months ago (Kairos 94) looked very different. But the culmination was no less beautiful. My most visible contribution to this past Kairos took the form of a self-recorded video made in my dorm room on a Wednesday night, as my roommate laughed at my mistakes in between takes. What I will remember most from this Kairos, however, has nothing to do with myself. The day before this year’s retreatants would begin their Kairos journeys, three incredible alumni gathered together in an empty classroom in Xavier Hall on SLU’s campus to practice giving their talks, and I was lucky enough to be present and provide feedback. For three hours, there was spirited debate over the connotation of ‘notorious,’ the dire effects of ‘Mass skippen,’’ and the Holy Spirit revealed itself in the words and works of three young men, who were giving up their time and their hearts, even in the face of impending exams and papers. They were giving Love. They were Love in Action.

That cold Sunday morning exemplifies all that Kairos is supposed to be. As I said during my talk in May of 2019, the spirit of Kairos is present in simple, small acts of Love that we give to each other. Much has changed over the course of this past year. But it is powerful to remember those things that have remained the same. Love remains the same. God remains the same. He remains present in the sacrifice of this year’s leaders. He remains present on Kairos. And he remains present in all of those students who continue to choose to Live the Fourth.