Growing Closer to God — and Each Other

Eric Seiffert
Director of Marketing

Duchesne seniors experienced what is sure to be the first of many annual Kairos Retreats at the Pallottine Renewal Center in Florissant from March 10 through March 13.

The experience, organized by Duchesne Campus Minister Mike (Fitz) Fitzgerald, consisted of a series of talks led by Duchesne students, faculty, and Father Chris Holtmann that built upon one another to help attendees take a critical look at their lives and where they are headed.

 

“Kairos is a form of time,” said Fitzgerald. “It is Greek for the opportune time when things come to a head. It serves as a wake-up call to consider what’s going on in the world and what is important to them.”

Bringing this brand new tradition to Duchesne has been a goal of Fitzgerald’s since he was hired in the spring of 2025. President Paul Boschert ’77 saw this as a great opportunity for the class of 2026.

“I was invited to attend the three-and-a-half day retreat and witnessed firsthand what this meant to almost every student that attended,” he said. “Many enjoyed being in small groups with classmates they were not close to during their four years at Duchesne.”

“It was a really good bonding experience for our whole class,” said senior Reilly McCormack. “We got really close to God and to each other. We opened up in ways we had never done before.”

The program took months of planning, with students stepping up to lead significant portions of the itinerary.

“We had meetings starting in December," said senior Gabi Ulrich. "We figured out who was doing what, and planned pretty much the whole retreat."

"Leading the retreat itself was really eye-opening," she continued. "I got to learn a lot more about our classmates and strengthen our relationships.

The event ended with a closing ceremony on Duchesne’s campus, where students stood in front of their parents and shared their retreat experiences and how much they appreciated the opportunity to attend.

It was the culmination not only of an impactful few days, but an impactful four years as these seniors prepare to enter the next chapter of their lives in just a few short months.