Ministry
Living the Magis

Retreats

Retreats are an essential part of the Brophy experience. They offer students the opportunity to get to know themselves, to get to know their classmates and to strengthen their relationship with God. Beginning with the Freshman Retreat and coming full circle with the final Threshold Retreat as a senior, retreats lead students to mature in individual self-awareness, and at the same time, strengthen connections and relationships within their family and school communities. 

The Freshman Retreat is on campus, but most of the retreats happen at Manresa, Brophy's retreat campus in Oak Creek Canyon, outside of Sedona, Arizona. Other than the Freshman Retreat, these experiences are not mandatory but are encouraged. They play an important role in leading students to become the Jesuit-educated Graduate at Graduation: open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving and committed to doing justice. 

 

List of 4 items.

  • Freshman Retreat >

    At the beginning of the year, Brophy freshmen participate in a retreat intended to introduce them to the community, to their Big Brothers and to the Jesuit idea of becoming Men for Others. The retreat includes a service opportunity, group activities, dinner and a concluding service that parents are encouraged to attend. 

  • Kairos >

    Each Kairos Retreat begins on Tuesday and ends early on Friday evening. There are three or four Kairos Retreats each year for seniors exclusively, with a final two or three of the year for juniors who will help carry on the tradition the following year.
     
    Each retreat is led by a team composed of six seniors who have made Kairos and six 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.

  • Magis >

    The Magis Retreat is offered 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. Each two-day retreat runs from Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon.

  • Threshold Retreat >

    The 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.