Program Overview
(Click here to see 2008-2009 Program Brochure)
God's goal for our lives is that we become more like Jesus. Only God can make this happen. Only God can help us become WHOLE and HOLY. This is why God's Spirit works within us, to shape us into this likeness. This creative ministry of the Trinity has been spoken of as "Spiritual Formation," being formed by God.
Here is a brief description of the programs offered by Kairos. Refer to each programs' specific pages for additional information.
9-Month Spiritual Formation Programs
Kairos offers a two-year program that meets on weekends, once a month from September through May. See Year One: Drawing Near to God, and Year Two: Prayer and the Contemplative Life.
Deepening Prayer: Into the Heart of God continues the journey begun in Years One and Two, and is designed to support contemplative life in the world through deepening one’s relationship with God, self, and the world. Through Deepening Prayer, we discover how each of us is invited to live compassionately, humbly, and justly from the heart of God’s love.
Weekend Programs
Are you longing for spiritual refreshment? We welcome you to attend a weekend retreat to experience the Kairos rhythm of silence, prayer, reflection, input, and worship.
- General Weekend Retreats: Guests can participate in resource sessions with Year One students or spend the weekend on their own silent retreat. Spiritual direction is available.
- Contemplative Healing Retreats
- Silent Light Retreats
- Spiritual Reading & Writing Retreats
Day Programs
Kairos Times
Kairos Times offers a unique opportunity to participate in the life of the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation. These Saturday retreats include a primary teaching session (see Year One themes) and personal time for reflection, journaling, and prayer.
A Day Apart
Catering to pastors' schedules, these day retreats offer a time of renewal for clergy, congregational leaders, spiritual directors and others.
Spiritual Direction Training
Spiritual Direction is an ancient form of strengthening and encouraging one another in Christ (Hebrews 3:13-14) dating back to the desert Mothers and Fathers. It is a process where we become more aware of God's presence and activity in our lives, and learn to respond with our whole being--head, heart, body, and soul. It is directive only in so far as the director and directee attend to the movement (e.g. direction) of the Holy Spirit in the directee's life. Spiritual direction is an evocative, experiential mode of being with directees as they attend to God's activity in their lives and prayer. The contemplative and evocative mode helps directees follow God's movement to its deepest place, in the midst of life's ordinary and extraordinary chaos. See Spiritual Direction Training.
Supervision of Spiritual Directors
Kairos offers the opportunity for newer spiritual directors supervision by trained, experienced spiritual directors. See Supervison of Spiritual Directors.
Spiritual Guidance Training for Clergy and Congregational Leaders
Clergy, pastors and congregational leaders are called to guide the soul of persons and congregations whom they serve. This introduction to the art and practice of spiritual companioning (spiritual direction) provides essential understandings and skills for this ministry of guidance. The Spiritual Guidance Training meets monthly on Tuesdays.
Group Spiritual Direction
Group Spiritual Direction offers time and space for a small group of persons to notice and explore God's presence in their daily lives. Growth and nurture happen for everyone with each person's sharing. It is facilitated by certified spiritual directors and held at locations other than the Jesuit Spiritual Center.
Meets monthly from September through May. 2 hour sessions; groups of 4 or 5 persons. Cost: $200 - $250 for the year (sliding scale: pay as you are able).