Most Gozitan youths find Sunday Mass 'boring'

Over 60 per cent of 16- to 18-year-olds in Gozo get bored during Sunday Mass though 95 per cent still attend regularly, according to a survey carried out by the Gozo Diocesan Youth Commission.

The majority of young people, 50.9 per cent, cited the homily as the most irritating aspect of the Mass. However, they also complained about the monotony of the service and the lack of interaction.

The comprehensive survey was carried out by means of a detailed questionnaire among post-secondary students at Sir Mikiel Ang Refalo school.

The 353 responses account for more than 50 per cent of the scholastic population in Gozo and provide a good overall picture of youth attitudes to various aspects of life on the island, ranging from career aspirations to sexual behaviour.

Out of those who attend Sunday Mass, 83 per cent said they felt the need to go, while just 4.4 per cent said they attended because they were compelled to do so, and 8.2 per cent thought they would be committing a sin if they did not go.

Young Gozitans are still committed to prayer, with 59 per cent saying they did so either every day or very regularly and just 5.6 per cent saying never. Sixty per cent pray together with their families.

However, interest in Catholic groups is waning, with over 75 per cent of youngsters saying they took no part in such activities - though almost 60 per cent did when they were younger.

Over 43 per cent of the youngsters said they had watched pornographic films at least once, with 30.9 per cent listing it as an occasional pastime, and 18.7 per cent said they had had sexual relations with a member of the opposite sex. The survey reveals that 21.7 per cent of those in their first relationship had already had sexual relations at least once.

The commentary in the survey states that sexual activity among youngsters in Gozo is on the increase and for most of the students it is not conditioned by any authority or moral code. In fact, almost all of those who engage in sexual relations attend Sunday Mass, while a number pray regularly and some are members of Catholic groups. Over 28 per cent believe there should be sexual relations between youngsters in their age group.

There is considerable divergence in the attitudes of boys and girls to the subject of sex and pornography in the survey, though the number of those that are sexually active is quite similar. The survey also found that those who watch pornography are considerably more likely to have sexual relations.

There is little doubt that Gozitan youngsters are a sociable crowd: almost all the students go out at the weekend and 63 per cent do not return home before midnight.

Almost 60 per cent consume alcohol and bars and discos are extremely popular, as opposed to the more traditional forms of entertainment such as band clubs and football clubs which have dwindled to a trickle. The large majority, 95 per cent, say they have never taken drugs, though when there was abuse it was often connected with a particular place of entertainment and alcohol consumption.

Television is a popular pastime, with 57.5 per cent saying they spend a lot of time in front of the box, while just 2.5 per cent say they never watch TV. Cinema is also well attended, with almost half the students listing it as a social activity.

A quarter of the students have never been abroad but just over half are very positive about life. However, 33 per cent describe it as "nothing special" and 7.4 per cent say there is no point. A number of them list the most important thing in their lives at the moment as their studies, 31.7 per cent, though relationships, career and entertainment also feature.

The conclusions of the survey state that the Gozitan diocese has listed as a priority the care of youngsters in Gozo and their education.

The authors state: "From the study it seems that youngsters are no longer frequenting religious groups, or observing certain moral codes, particularly when it comes to sexual relations... but the large majority are close to the Church and in continuous contact with it, particularly through Sunday Mass."