Deepening Spirituality Through the Holy Eucharist

Abstract. Limited scholarly attention has been given to how contemporary tertiary students experience the Holy Eucharist within Catholic higher education settings. This study addressed this gap by examining how participation in the sacrament relates to the spiritual development of students, both individually and communally. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was utilized. The quantitative phase involved a survey administered to 504 second-year Religious Education students to determine their levels of understanding, appreciation, and lived experiences of the Holy Eucharist. The qualitative phase followed, consisting of semi-structured interviews with 100 purposively selected participants to obtain an in-depth account of their lived experiences and spiritual reflections. Results of the quantitative phase indicated that a substantial proportion of respondents (78%) agreed that participation in the Holy Eucharist provides spiritual nourishment, strengthens their relationship with God, and enhances engagement in communal worship. The qualitative findings further elaborated these results, revealing that students consistently associated Eucharistic participation with experiences of peace, fulfillment, and spiritual renewal. These experiences were attributed to moments of reflection, strengthened communal belonging, and recognition of the sacrament’s formative and transformative significance in daily life. Participants likewise reported an increased disposition toward authentic Christian living following active participation in the sacrament. The study concludes that participation in the Holy Eucharist plays a significant role in fostering the spiritual development of tertiary students by reinforcing both personal faith formation and communal ecclesial identity. The findings highlight the need for sustained educational and pastoral interventions that promote meaningful Eucharistic engagement and support ongoing spiritual formation within Catholic academic institutions. Keywords: Eucharistic Spirituality; Holy Eucharist; Religious Education; Spirituality; Student engagement