Year 12 retreat highlights the importance of family

“Throughout all the good times and the difficult times in life, it is family that walks through it with you, whoever they may be.”

The importance of family was a key message from last week’s Year 12 Retreat – a highlight of the annual Blackfriars calendar.

During the three-day Retreat, at Victor Harbor, teachers shared very personal stories of their own families.

Leader of Learning (Religious Education) Silvana Cardone, who has an Italian background and huge extended family, said everyone’s family looked different.

“The thing that we have to remember is that throughout all the times of you life, the difficult times, it’s your family who will get you through,” Ms Cardone told the boys.

“It doesn’t matter what that family looks like, everyone’s family is different, but they are the ones that will be there for you.”

Year 12 students listen as Leader of Learning (Religious Education) Silvana Cardone talks about the importance of family.

She said, for many people, friends became their family.

“I am sure some of you have already hit this point where your friends become family,” she said.

“When you live away from your family, your friends really do become your family.

“When you go to work and there is someone there that supports you, that you love to see, that person becomes your family.”

And with many Blackfriars students born overseas, or with parents who were born outside Australia, Ms Cardone also highlighted the importance of the family we were yet to meet.

Year 12 student Daniel reads his letter from home during Year 12 Retreat.

“You can meet family for the first time … and while you’re strangers, you feel like you’ve known each other forever,” she said.

“You can have those connections with family that you didn’t know existed or you’ve never met. You can have family that lives very far away, but that doesn’t make them any less important.

“Just because you don’t see them, you don’t love them any less. Family doesn’t have to live with you to be family. They don’t even have to live in the same country.”

Year 12 student Nam leaves an affirmation for a classmate at Year 12 Retreat.

The importance of family was again reinforced during the Retreat when the boys received letters from their own families.

“The letters from home have become a real highlight of the Retreat for the boys and it’s something we’re really proud to be able to deliver,” Assistant Principal: Religious Identity and Mission Angela Collins said.

“Many of the boys feel quite emotional after reading their letter. There are always some tears.”

During the Retreat, the students also had the chance to leave affirmations for their classmates and teachers.

“Sometimes, you just need to know that people care about you and appreciate you,” Ms Collins said.

Annual retreats are a key part of Blackfriars’ pastoral care and wellbeing program. Starting at Reception, they offer students an opportunity to come together as a year-level cohort and provide important moments for connection and reflection.