Above: Xavier faculty and staff with former Xavier teacher and
administrator Greg Harkness, third from left, current Principal of
Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Harkness flew 
to New York to help lead the faculty Kairos retreat.

Faculty and Staff Take Time for Reflection

By Nick Byrne '11

On a day that began with a prayer service in the newly-renovated student chapel, faculty and staff members embarked on a spiritual journey.

They returned hours later with their hearts on fire to share the Good News with one another.

Dean of Faculty Brian McCabe and a sizable group of people connected to the spiritual life of the school, including Xavier’s five Jesuit teachers, planned and organized a day of prayer, reflection, and meditation.

“Our goal was to develop a retreat day that would provide folks with the opportunity to have a substantive encounter with God in the context of a faith community,” Mr. McCabe said. The group of organizers decided to lean on the student retreat offerings as a springboard: Kairos, Magis, and the Silent Retreat. A pilgrimage to sacred spaces in New York City was added as a fourth option from which people could choose.

“The student programs are well-designed and deeply rooted in the Spiritual Exercises and Jesuit experience,” he added. “It made tremendous sense to emulate them.”

Director of Campus Ministry Kaija DeWitt believes that it is vital for Ignatian educators to model a life of inquiry, reflection, and prayer.

“Xavier’s administration does a phenomenal job of offering opportunities and support for people in that area,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s important that we do this together rather than individually. It says something to our students and families that taking the time to pray as an adult community is important enough for us to take a school day together to do it."

Jose Aquino ’07, who teaches religion and coaches football at Xavier, added that “a retreat renews and invigorates.”

“Too often we get overwhelmed by ‘busy-ness’ and lose sight of our goal as Jesuit educators,” he said. “Our greatest role is to communicate the mission of the school to our entire community—especially the students. It also gives us a chance to be personally invested in the mission.”

“The retreat exceeded our expectations, thanks to the thoughtful effort of the planning team, the genuine openness of the faculty and staff, and the grace of the Holy Spirit,” Mr. McCabe said. “We could not have asked for a more beautiful day together.”