Year 11 Retreat - I Am Wonderfully Made
Two weeks ago, Year 11 had the opportunity to spend three days at Kiah Ridge as part of our retreat program. It was an opportunity for us all to take a step back from the business of school and work and truly reflect on who we are as people and the importance of God in our lives.
The theme of this retreat was ‘I am wonderfully made’, extracted from Psalms 139. It served as a reminder of the care and attention God has given each of us and highlights our uniqueness and special purpose. In a world like today, it is quite easy to forget that no one is the same, with social media and other factors influencing the way we see ourselves. We take for granted the gifts and talents we have all been blessed with and are forced into a race of comparison and competition. This central theme opened our eyes to see that we as humans are not just 1 in 8 billion people - we are all one from one, our individuality crafted at the hand of God. Our theme song Who you Say I Am encompassed this message, allowing us as an entire group to affirm that we truly are children of God. Singing these words together can only be described as empowering and was definitely a core memory for many.
Over the course of three days, year 11 as a cohort bonded together in ways that we thought would never happen. Whether it be in our small groups or our large groups, the fun and excitement of being together whilst learning about each other could only be described as an invaluable experience. From singing and dancing to newspaper fashion shows and blindfolded trust walks, new friendships were formed and it is fair to say we all took something greater out of this opportunity.
On behalf of year 11, I’d like to thank the staff of Kiah Ridge for welcoming us and allowing us to connect and grow as a group. I also would like to thank Mr Duval for organising this memorable occasion and to our teachers Mr Bacca, Mrs Wagstaff, Mrs Singles, Mr Muller, Mr Lord, Ms Barry, Miss Young and Mrs Cornett for taking the time out of their lives to share this experience with us.
By Gabrielle V
UPCOMING MISSION EVENTS
Thursday 22 June - Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Training at the Diocese of Wollongong [some Year 10 and 11 stduents being trained]
Friday 23 June - ALIGHT [after school retreat for Years 10-12]
Friday 30 June - St Benedict Day [Mass at 9am in the MSC all parents and friends are warmly welcome]
Joel Duval - Mission Coordinator
