A Comparative Study of Grade 12 Students’ Attitudes towards Religion in Formal and non-Formal Catholic Education settings in a Cebu-based Catholic University

Abstract

This study presented a comparison of the Grade 12 students’ attitude towards religion and frequency of attending the Holy Mass based on the respondents’ type of Junior High School in a Cebu-based Catholic University. It is imperative to nurture the faith of the young especially through an encounter with the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. A Descriptive Quantitative Survey using the measure on religion (Baring, et al) was given to the target respondents (G12 Catholics, at least 18 years of age). It was found out that 56% of the Grade 12 respondents were SOMETIMES attending the Holy Mass. On the other hand, 46% of them are ALWAYS praying. There was a significant relationship between the Grade 12 students’ attitude towards Religion and the frequency of attending Holy Mass, though the Pearson correlation value indicated a weak connection. How can this devotion to the highest form of prayer, the Holy Eucharist, be nurtured, sustained, and developed in the hearts of the youth today? This remains a challenge to the researcher in the next step of further studies she needs to delve into in.