RETREATS

Retreats are an essential part of being the Brophy experience.  Retreats offer you a chance to get closer to yourself, your peers, your friends and God.  Whether it is participating in the Freshman retreat during one of your first weekends as a Bronco or going on Kairos as a senior, the retreats at Brophy will be fun, eye-opening and just agreat chance to find yourself in the midst of your busy lives.

Still not convinced?  Read this…Mr. Walsh offers a few key reasons why you really should just go away.

Applications are now available for 2012-13 Kairos and Magis Retreats.  All sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to sign up early to secure your spot.  When signing up please rank all retreat dates for which you are available in order of preference.

Things to keep in mind as you decide which retreats you want and are able to go on:

1. Would you like to be a retreat leader at some point?  If so, try to go on a retreat as soon as you are eligible.  i.e. Go on Magis as a sophomore, Kairos as a junior.
2. Do you play sports or are you heavily involved in an activity or club on campus?  If so, plan to go in the off season or talk with your coach or moderator now to see when the best times would be for you to go on retreat.
3. Are you in A.P. classes?  We highly recommend not going on a retreat in the days and weeks leading up to AP exams.  Talk to your AP teacher to get a better sense of a good time to make a retreat.
4. Do you expect to miss class for anything else during the year (i.e. an immersion trip, speech and debate tournament, choir festival, athletic events, college visit, etc.)?  If so, we recommend planning ahead so your absences are not within four weeks of each other.  As much as possible, students should try to arrange absences for trips and retreats in alternate semesters.

FROSH RETREAT:

At the beginning of the year Brophy freshmen participate in an overnight retreat intended to introduce them to the community, to upperclassmen, and to the Jesuit idea of “Men for Others.”  The retreat consists of a service opportunity, a group dinner at an upperclassman’s family’s house, spending the night at Brophy with other freshmen, and a concluding  Mass that families are encouraged to attend.

The weekend is a tremendous opportunity for Brophy’s newest members to get to know themselves, their classmates, the Brophy community, and God better.  The Frosh Retreat is directed by the Big Brothers.  These upperclassmen will serve not only as friends and Frosh Retreat leaders, but as spiritual, social, and academic role models throughout the freshman year.

MAGIS

The Magis retreat is offerred to first-semester juniors and second-semester Sophomores.  Magis allows juniors and sophomores the opportunity to discuss masculine spirituality and Ignatian spirituality as they continue their journey of becoming men with and for others. The retreat also looks to assist young men as they begin the transition into roles of personal responsibility and leadership. The retreat takes place at Manresa, Brophy’s retreat center in Oak Creek Canyon. It runs from Wednesday afternoon to Friday afternoon.

2012-2013 Magis dates:

TO APPLY:

Applications available in the Office of Faith and Justice or by clicking here.

KAIROS

The Kairos Retreat begins after school on Tuesday and ends early on a Friday evening. There are four Kairos retreats each year for seniors. The final two of the year is for Juniors who will help carry on the tradition the following year.

Each retreat is led by a team composed of 6 seniors who have made Kairos and 6 faculty/staff members. The activities on Kairos are used to promote and build community, to foster trust and openness, and to encourage reflection. The key themes are: knowing oneself, discovering Jesus in a personal way, recognizing and responding to Jesus’ call, and living the message of Christ.

Each retreatant is encouraged to grow in awareness of the countless opportunities to meet God in our world, especially in others. There are many Ignatian values that naturally flow from the experience of Kairos. Each retreatant learns that he is loved, lovable, and loving. The retreatant comes to see Jesus in a new light, as a real friend, loving and calling him.

Reflection is prominent throughout the retreat.  In the course of the retreat there is a strong, gradual building of community. This supports the retreatants during the retreat and also in the follow-up period. The reality of this often shows up in the school where visible, loving dimensions of community appear. Ignatius’ motto, “Love is shown in deeds more than words,” is a Kairos theme. The critical final phase of the retreat and the follow-ups stress putting love into action.

 2012-2013 Kairos Dates

TO APPLY:

Kairos applications available in the OFJ or click here.

If you would like to be a Student Leader on Kairos: Pick up an application in the OFJ or click here.

SENIOR THRESHOLD RETREAT

The Senior Threshold Retreat offers graduating seniors a final opportunity for prayer, reflection and fun at Manresa.  This retreat is focused on the experience of transition, leaving behind a place and an experience that has had great meaning and moving onto something unfamiliar.  The Threshold Retreat also begins to explore the meaning of true vocation and how young men can use simple tools of discernment as they embark on their college career to help guide and deepen their college experience.

The 2013 Senior Threshold Retreat will be held in May, dates T.B.D.