Spiritual Formation: Challenges and Coping Mechanisms of Senior High Seminarians in the New Normal Education

Abstract

The education sector is one of the highly affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic. In the Philippines, various measures have been initiated to implement social isolation strategies, and online teaching is followed with rapid curriculum transformation. This study was conducted at a Seminary School in the Philippines to assess the spiritual formation activities, challenges and coping mechanisms based on the lived experiences of Senior High Seminarians. The study is a qualitative design using descriptive phenomenology as methodology. Data were gathered using a researcher-made interview schedule and questionnaire for the focus group discussion (FGD). Ten senior High School seminarians were chosen through purposive sampling. The result shows that most seminarians attended the Mass and praying novena and holy rosary as part of their spiritual formation activities. However, they spent their time playing online mobile games and are addicted to social media, leading them to lack focus and motivation. Seminarians resort to prayer, self-disciplining through avoidance or limitation in using gadgets and social media, and effective and proper to cope with these challenges. It is recommended that the seminary conduct capacity building on how to combat challenges seminarians face and provide a venue for open discussion and feedback so they may have the chance to voice their sentiments and concerns.

Keywords

• challenges
• coping mechanisms
• new normal education
• phenomenology