Kairos celebrated its 35th year at San Quentin with Kairos 57, a celebration of Christ, called Living Water.
John, Chapter 7 verse 38 says, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
At Kairos #57, water from Christ’s followers flowed with grace and mercy.
Kairos San Quentin started when a correctional officer partnered with a chaplain who was a victim of a shooting. In 1989, the two started a spiritual retreat which happens at San Quentin on the three-day holiday weekends, joining Kairos’ worldwide Christian faith which has remained SQ’s sponsors since.
The weekend’s message to the new incarcerated participants informed everyone that God’s Living Water runs through every creature on the planet.
Instead of focusing only on the new participants, the program leaders acknowledged the outside volunteers, whom spent seven months preparing for the retreat.
“We owe these Christian men on the outside our new lives,” said server leader Kenny Rogers.
“The dedication they give to San Quentin will hopefully transfer to these new Christian’s walks with Christ,” said co-server leader Ammen Shinti.
Kairos’ mission is to introduce the concept of agape love to the new members, through life-changing events they experience during the four-day retreat.
The spiritual retreat has introduced interdenominational faith to over 2,480 incarcerated people at the prison over the years.
Outside Rector, Max Dreyer shared his witness from participating in SQ Kairos for twelve years. “Kairos is everything to me! It completes me,” said Dreyer.
Martin Coyne and Larry Fitch spend every first and third Friday with the inside leadership team coordinating monthly reunions, writing Christmas cards to residents, and attending the four-day retreats expressed their agape love for the men.
“The love of God fills my heart with joy when we are in the midst of a room filled with men-in-blue. I feel lifted by the faith and hope that comes in our retreats,” said Coyne.
Fitch, a volunteer with Kairos SQ for 21 years, said, “Kairos has taught me what heaven will be like. I work in an outside ministry called Eikow, where I witness an inmate of 22 years working with a retired sally port guard — WITH EACH OTHER! That’s how it will be in heaven,” said Fitch.
A first time volunteer, a regular volunteer and the longest tenured volunteer shared their insight of the weekend as well.
Matt Duffy partook in his first Kairos as a SQ volunteer. “Those hot dogs we received in Chow Hall, were very curious things but I felt the acceptance of the residents as we shared common ground, and I now pray SQ is not the end of these Christian’s stories,” said Duffy.
Eight year volunteer, Frank Woodstock, hoped the participants received a deeper love for Christ and their fellow man. “I appreciate immensely what the prison administration has done for our organization over the years; and the CO’s like Davy and Huey’s who assisted were fabulous,” said Woodstock.
Vic Perrella one of the original volunteers 35 years ago and an ardent member of SQ’s Catholic Chapel with his wife Judy gave praise to the “Cadets of Christ.”
“I hope our new members understand God’s forgiveness is always present and He never forgets His love for anyone,” said Perrella.
The initiation weekend happens twice a year — on President’s Day weekend and on Labor Day. Leadership from SQ’s Catholic and Protestant churches select forty-two residents to attend and the entire retreat team consisted of 47 community volunteers.
After the retreat, incarcerated resident Gabriel Ordenain said, “This is a true blessing to experience the Love from the brothers in Christ from Kairos #57. It is something I will never forget.”
