The Impact of Religious Activities on Youth Experiences: A Phenomenological Study of Sunday School Programs in the Korean Catholic Church

[Objective] This study explores the influence of religious engagement during adolescence, focusing on the role of Sunday School in the Korean Catholic Church and its potential for improvement. [Contents] This study utilized a phenomenological approach collecting data through in-depth interviews. Participants included adolescents who are currently or previously engaged in Sunday School, along catechists and young adults affiliated with Diocese A. Giorgi’s phenomenological analysis method was applied to analyze the data, which led to the identification of five key themes: “supportive community members,” “a welcoming, inclusive space,” “peer relationships grounded in faith,” “acquisition of essential life skills,” and “discovery of faith within an engaging environment.” [Conclusions] The conclusions of this study are as follows. First, Sunday School activities during adolescence have been shown to play both direct and indirect roles of importance in adolescent life. Second, these activities support not only the transmission of catechetical knowledge but also contribute significantly to the holistic development of young people. Consequently, this study indicates the need for church communities to support youth faith formation by providing opportunities for diverse activities and experiential learning alongside catechetical instruction, thereby accompanying adolescents on their journey of faith.