A retreat is a little bit like Christmas: exchanging gifts with God! You give God your gifts of time and openness and God gives you a gift as well, something meant just for you. To facilitate this exchange of gifts and help you grow in your relationship with God, the Newman Center offers a variety of retreats throughout the year. All our retreats allow you to get away to a beautiful location with a small group of people. Once on retreat, there will be talks and activities, small group sharing, and times for private prayer. And each retreat has its own unique character, so that you can pick the one, or ones, just right for you. And the Newman Center covers at least half the cost of the retreat, so it's never expensive. Following is a list of our current offerings.

Kairos, which means "God's time," is a three-day retreat based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. We'd tell you more, but that would ruin the experience! For those who've been on Kairos we also offer a "Live the 4th" retreat. Check here for Kairos retreat dates and here for Live the 4th dates.

You asked for it! These retreats began in 1997 in response to students' requests for brief WCU retreats each semester. We leave on Friday afternoon and return Saturday night, so you still have Sunday to study. In the 24 hours we're there, we relax, share, pray, and grow as a community. Previous locations we've used include the Mary Immaculate Center in Northampton, PA, the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, PA, and the IHM Spirituality Center in Immaculata, PA. Click here for the Fall retreat date.

This retreat is designed especially for people who are getting ready to graduate from WCU. (Graduate students are welcome, too.) Leave behind thoughts of resumes, interviews, NTE's, etc. on Friday afternoon and escape to "God's Country House" until Sunday morning! We will be staying at a magnificent retreat center: the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville, PA. Take this opportunity to ponder the affirmation: We do not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future!

     Throughout the weeks leading up to the Kairos Retreat I was bombarded with positive and negative banter from past retreaters. With courage and a little push from a good friend I was able to look past the hype and go on the Kairos Retreat. That good friend was God, and as each day of the retreat came to a close I thanked him more and more, not just for giving me the strength the go on the retreat, but for being there for me throughout my entire life, even when I thought I was alone.
     I encourage any student confused or apprehensive about their Catholic faith to go on the Kairos Retreat. The retreat helps one see Gods presence in others as well as oneself. On the first day of the retreat I looked around the room at all my fellow retreaters and saw a bunch of strangers. By the last day of the retreat I truly felt connected to my fellow retreaters in a way I know I will never be connected to anyone again.

- Garrett Santoro


     When Father asked me to write about Kairos in a paragraph I thought, just one? That's it, that's all I get to write? The most amazing, uplifting, and ground breaking experience and I only get a paragraph?! I could probably write a book about my experience there! Anyway I took up the challenge and here it goes. When I was first asked to go on Kairos I wasn't completely sure I wanted to go, but with some encouragement from my family and friends I decided to go. It is probably one of the best decisions I could have ever made. The first night I was there I was extremely nervous, I didn't know what to expect and being with so many new people kind of scared me, but with some help from my friends that I knew before I was able to come out of my shell little by little and by the end of the night I was much more relaxed and by the end of the weekend I made so many new and good friends. Not only was this experience socially rewarding but spiritually rewarding as well. Before the retreat started my relationship with God wasn't all that great. I prayed to him every now and then and was starting to loose my faith in him. During the retreat we were given lots of opportunities to sit, pray, and just spend time with God. It was during these times that I realized just how much God was in my life and now that bond with him is stronger than it ever has been. If I were asked to go on a Kairos retreat again I would say yes in a heartbeat. It is definitely an amazing experience and worth all of the time that it took the leaders, who did a fantastic job, to put it together and I would recommend anyone who is debating about going to go because of how much you get out of it.

- Rachael Wilson


     First of all, one of the most amazing things about Kairos was the friendships that built within our group. After only three days we all felt like we had known each other for years! This fellowship was an extremely valuable part of the retreat because it gave us a strong network of support that continued on campus after the retreat.
     Another awesome part of the Kairos experience was the new perspective it gave all of us- when you return from the retreat, you are a different person than you were before you left! And this change is definitely a positive one. The retreat helped us all to see our faith in a different way, in a way that was more exciting and relevant to our lives as college students. I would ask every student even remotely thinking about taking part in the next Kairos to DO IT! There is absolutely nothing to lose- any hesitations you may have will disappear as you experience the power and beauty of Kairos.

- Anne Sasdelli


     When Father Nordeman approached me about attending the Kairos retreat, I admit that at first I was reluctant. I was expecting a very boring weekend with complete strangers. Luckily for me it was quite the contrary. I had a great time and it was probably the closest to God I have ever felt. Not only was I able to see God in a new light, but I was also able to meet great people. What struck me the most about the retreat was how personalized the Kairos leaders made it for myself and others. I must also mention that I was surprised to find out how much fun you can have on a seemingly boring retreat. It is definitely a retreat I would recommend, but to understand such a special retreat, you have to experience it yourself.

- PJ Gallo

<< Back to Activities