Exploring the Millennial Youth Spiritual Identity: The SMCQC Experience

Abstract

The discourse on religion in modernity has continued into the new millennium. The future of religion in pluralistic modernity has been the subject of inquiries. As in any human institution, the future continuity of Christian churches hinges on the new generation of believers. The research project proposes that Christian spirituality among the millennial Filipino youth in St. Mary's College, Quezon City continues to survive due to the support of institutions that provide venues for public ritual and private reflections among youth/students. This study explores and describes the experiences of young millennials in a Catholic school while they engage in different religious activities. Further, the study scrutinizes the impact of these religious engagements and draws the attention to this continuing significance in finding meaning in the process; consequently, describes their spiritual identity. The interpretative phenomenological qualitative research follows a batch of 21 random students from various programs of the college, as they undergo religious activities at the school and draws from the insights of religious studies, psychology and reflective analysis to provide an understanding of millennial youth spiritual identity.