Retreats & Camino Communities

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Retreats

In the spirit and tradition of Ignatian Spirituality, Campus Ministry offers several types of experiences to meet a wide range of spiritual needs. If you are looking to refresh your faith life and grow in your relationship with others, yourself and God, we have something for you!

Escape

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Escape

Fairfield Escape is an overnight retreat for First Year Students who are seeking ways to meet other first years, talk about what they hope their college experience will be like, and have some fun! During the retreat, you will have the opportunity to hear from your peers about their transitions and faith life in college while spending time talking about your own transition with a small group of fellow First Year Students. The retreat is held at the Incarnation Center in Ivoryton, CT. Transportation to and from the retreat center is provided by Campus Ministry.

 

Escape, like all Campus Ministry events, are open to people of all faith traditions and backgrounds. We hope to see you there!

The cost of the event is $50.

 

For more information, visit our Life@Fairfield page or contact Marc Alibrandi at x2767 or via email.

Kairos Retreats

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Kairos Retreats

Kairos, adapted to mean "God's time", is a three-day weekend experience that invites close examination of our relationships with others, ourselves, and God in a communal and reflective setting. Kairos is facilitated by a group of your fellow peers who are extremely excited to share their stories and hear yours, so please join us for a fun, laughter-filled reflective weekend! The retreat begins on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday afternoon at the beautiful Incarnation Center in Ivoryton, CT. Kairos welcomes students of all faiths as well as those who are spiritual searchers. This retreat is a great opportunity for those who have never gone on a retreat before and for those who have been on many. Experience this great Fairfield tradition!

 

Kairos is offered once a semester, so there are ample opportunities to attend during your time at Fairfield.

 

For more information, visit our Life@Fairfield page or contact Marc Alibrandi at x2767 or via email.

Senior Retreat

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Senior Retreat

Senior Retreat gives current seniors the opportunity to take a step back and reflect on where you have been and what might be coming on the path ahead. You'll have an opportunity to hear from other members of the Senior Class, have conversations with your fellow classmates, and most importantly have fun!

Senior Retreat will be held at the Incarnation Center in Ivoryton, CT in the Spring semester, and is facilitated by a team of your fellow Senior classmates. The cost is $35 and transportation is provided by Campus Ministry. Hope to see you there!

For more information, visit our Life@Fairfield page in the Spring semester or contact Marc Alibrandi at x2767 or via email.

Cura: A Retreat for LGBTQ Students

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Cura: A Retreat for LGBTQ Students

Cura is a retreat for LGBTQ+ students focused on nourishing our mental, physical, and spiritual health. We will be joined by LGBTQ faculty and staff who will offer reflections on caring for our whole selves from a queer perspective. Throughout the day we will reflect together through talks, journaling, one-on-one conversations, and in small groups as we address the question of how to thrive as a community at Fairfield.

Students who identify as LGBTQ+ are welcome to register for the retreat when registration opens. While we appreciate the allies who are interested in participating, at this time we are reserving participation for those who identify as LGBTQ+.

For more information, visit our Life@Fairfield page or contact Kevin Molloy at kmolloy@fairfield.edu.

Camino Communities

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Camino Communities

Camino Communities are small groups of students who meet regularly to build a community of friends, discuss what's going on in their lives, and reflect on who they are called to be.

Camino Communities are great for any student looking to meet new people, have intentional conversation about their personal, physical, and spiritual life, and have fun! If you've ever been in a small group on retreat, and enjoyed it, you'll love these communities.

We will pair you up with a Camino Community as soon as we can after you fill out the form. Sometimes this might take a couple weeks. The Camino Community form is open for the entire academic year, so there is no deadline to sign up.

For more information and to register, visit our Life@Fairfield page and look for the “Camino Community Sign Up Form” under the “Forms” heading.

Please contact Marc Alibrandi at malibrandi1@fairfield.edu with any questions you might have.

Testimonials

Nicole Dana '22

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Nicole Dana '22

“Sophomore year started differently. The campus wasn’t as new and exciting as it had been and life settled into a routine quickly. I knew who my friends were, how much I should study to succeed, and how much sleep I needed to function. I knew where I was but at the same time I felt lost and out of place, I quickly realized I was experiencing the “sophomore slump”. It was a time of confusion academically, relationally, emotionally, and spiritually… In the fall of my sophomore year I signed up for the Kairos retreat and this picture shows the people from my Kairos small group. The Kairos retreat changed my perspective on life... You do not need to be religious to attend Kairos, the retreat is open to anyone and it may not change your life but you will absolutely take something away from it… It helped me find love for myself and from others during a time of doubt and uncertainty. The Kairos retreat that Fairfield offers allows for students to temporarily leave behind the usual distractions and stresses we normally face on a daily basis and allow us to relax and re-examine our life in a new way.”

– Nicole Dana '22

Joe Diacetis '21

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Joe Diacetis '21

"Kairos was the beginning of my faith and spiritual journey. It forced me to ask myself questions I never considered. After a year and a half, I was fortunate to be able to be a Kairos leader, which allowed me to share my experiences with people in similar situations as myself. As a retreatant and a leader of Kairos, I have never felt so respected and comfortable in my life, considering I was being vulnerable. It is truly indescribable the power that Kairos has on people."

– Joe Diacetis '21

Olivia McEvoy '19

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Olivia McEvoy '19

"Some of my fondest memories from Fairfield have to do with the programs I participated in through the retreats and immersion programs. Not only that, but as I look back on these experiences, I think of how much each one shaped me, helped me to grow, or push me to continue to better myself and my knowledge of the world around me. The friendships I made and the moments I got to experience with new friends and old are things I will always look back on with immense gratitude."

– Olivia McEvoy '19 

Maggie Hahn '21

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Maggie Hahn '21

“I went on the Escape retreat after having a rough few first weeks of Freshman year. While on it I met some of the people that would later become my best friends. I am so grateful for Escape since it allowed me to get out of my shell and made me realize that Fairfield was the right choice for me!”

– Maggie Hahn '21

Danielle Mank '23

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Danielle Mank '23

“Escape was a really great opportunity to get to know other freshmen on a more personal level very quickly, as well as learn from the past experiences of upperclassmen. The group bonding activities were super fun and the small group talks were really touching. Escape gave me the chance to open myself up to others and allow others to open up to me on a very personal level in a comfortable atmosphere away from the typical college stressors. Escape truly is an escape, just when you need it most.”

– Danielle Mank '23

Jessica Castillo '21

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Jessica Castillo '21

“My Escape experience not only granted me a break from the hustle and bustle of my first semester at Fairfield University, but it also helped me establish relationships with other like-minded students on campus I wouldn't otherwise have met. Escape helped make me feel like a part of campus life more than any other experience or activity could have.”

– Jessica Castillo '21

Erin Patten '20

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Erin Patten '20

“Being on Escape introduced me to my now roommates and best friends. It was a much needed "escape" from campus during an especially difficult time of transition during my first year at Fairfield, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity it presents!”

– Erin Patton '20

Emily Scott '20

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Emily Scott '20

“I was able to do the Kairos experience 3 times with being a retreatant, leading, and then directing. Each time, I learned so much about myself and about love within myself and others. Kairos taught me how important self-love is and how it is needed to love others. I made some of my best friends through the Kairos program and it caused me to grow so much in confidence.”
“Senior retreat was a great time!! I loved how I was able to hang out with people I don't always see or hang out with. It helped me process the graduating of college that was upon me. I learned that I was not alone in feeling like I didn't know where I was going next or that I was scared. It normalized my feelings of worry for the future that was unknown.”

– Emily Scott '20

Cailyn Fiori '22

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Cailyn Fiori '22

“This was the best way to take a moment to reflect on what I wanted out of the years to come at Fairfield during my first few weeks here. It was also a great way to make like-minded friends early on!”
“This retreat filled me up with so much love and allowed me to reflect and take care of myself as a busy college student.”

– Cailyn Fiori '22

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