An Inquiry into the Relationship Between Spiritual Intelligence and Sexual Perceptions of College Students

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FORMOSA NEWS - Philippines - Catholic Students Show High Catechism Awareness but Limited Depth of Faith Understanding, Philippine Study Finds. Research conducted by Margelyn L. Goaynon, Jomar Troy P. Abregana, Ermito R. Dayaba, Christine Faith G. Marpa, Ivan D. Tata, Shane Dee C. Tinanyag, Benedict L. Angco Jr., and Evan P. Taja-on from San Isidro College was published in the Indonesian Journal of Christian Education and Theology (IJCET), in February 2026 shows that Catholic college students have a high level of awareness of the basic teachings of the Church, but their in-depth understanding of the meaning of faith is still limited.

Background: Practiced Faith vs. Understood Faith
The Catechism of the Catholic Church serves as the official framework for Catholic doctrine, liturgy, morality, and prayer. Catholic education institutions rely on catechetical formation to shape students’ moral character and religious identity. However, educators have increasingly observed that students participate in religious activities Mass attendance, prayer, and devotions without fully understanding their theological foundations. This pattern raises concern because college years represent a crucial stage of intellectual and moral identity formation. Limited understanding of faith concepts may hinder students’ ability to integrate belief with daily decision-making and ethical reasoning. The San Isidro College study investigates this gap by examining both awareness and comprehension of catechism teachings among Catholic students.

Method: Survey of 196 Students Across Programs
The researchers applied a descriptive quantitative design at San Isidro College in Malaybalay City. A total of 196 undergraduate students from seven academic programs participated, selected through stratified random sampling to ensure representation across disciplines and year levels.
Data were collected using a structured questionnaire measuring two dimensions:

• Awareness of core catechism teachings.
• Understanding of their meaning and application.

The instrument underwent reliability testing and statistical analysis to identify overall patterns in student faith formation.

Key Findings: Awareness High, Understanding Basic
Results reveal a consistent pattern: students possess strong awareness of Catholic teachings but only foundational understanding of their theological depth.

• Catechism awareness: high.
• Awareness of Catholic teaching: mean 5.38.
• Integration in daily life: 5.46.
• Role of faith in life: 5.51.
• Relationships and community: 5.41.
• Identity and religious practice: 5.26.

These scores indicate that students recognize Catholic values and perceive them as relevant to personal and social life.
Catechism understanding: basic to moderate

• Faith and belief concepts: 5.27 (basic familiarity).
• Sacraments and worship: 5.27 (basic familiarity).
• Moral and social teaching: 5.34 (good understanding).
• Faith in daily life: 5.33 (good understanding).
• Faith identity: 5.19 (basic familiarity).

Students show stronger comprehension of moral teachings connected to everyday behavior than of theological or symbolic aspects such as sacramental meaning and doctrinal identity.

Implications for Catholic Higher Education
The findings carry direct implications for Catholic colleges and faith-formation programs:

1. Stronger catechetical formation - Campus ministry and religious education should emphasize theological reflection, not only ritual participation.
   
2. Integration of faith and academics - Learning should help students connect doctrine with ethical decision-making and personal identity.
   
3. Deeper sacramental understanding - Students need clearer explanation of liturgy, symbols, and sacramental theology.
   
4. Mature faith identity development - High awareness provides a foundation for cultivating reflective, adult faith.
   

The authors from San Isidro College argue that deeper catechesis can move students from familiarity with teaching toward authentic internalization of faith.

Author Profiles
Margelyn L. Goaynon, M.A. – Catholic religious education lecturer at San Isidro College
specializing in catechesis and faith formation.
Jomar Troy P. Abregana, M.A. – Educator in Christian education and youth spirituality at San Isidro College.
Ermito R. Dayaba, M.A. – Scholar in Catholic education and character development.
Christine Faith G. Marpa, M.A. – Researcher in student religious identity and faith education.
Ivan D. Tata, M.A. – Lecturer in pastoral theology and religious education.
Shane Dee C. Tinanyag, M.A. – Researcher in youth spirituality and faith formation.
Benedict L. Angco Jr., M.A. – Academic in Catholic moral and social education.
Evan P. Taja-on, Ph.D. – Professor of religious education and spirituality at San Isidro College, specializing in faith formation and character development.

Sources
Goaynon, Margelyn L., Abregana, Jomar Troy P., Dayaba, Ermito R., Marpa, Christine Faith G., Tata, Ivan D., Tinanyag, Shane Dee C., Angco Jr., Benedict L., & Taja-on, Evan P. 2026. Catholic Identity in Practice: A Survey on Awareness and Understanding of the Basic Catechism Among College Students. Indonesian Journal of Christian Education and Theology (IJCET), Vol. 5 No. 1, Februari 2026, hlm. 31–38.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijcet.v5i1.4
URL: https://journalijcet.my.id/index.php/ijcet