Questions to ask priest/chaplain

1. How can we make religion more important to teenagers?

It is important for teenagers to understand that they need God and it’s

not God who needs them. Often teenagers go to church and take part in

different events because they “have to” and they are too little aware

of the fact that they need God. It is important to show them how God

is important in their everyday lives and that religion isn’t something

that they should take part in because they have to but because

everyone, no matter who they are or what they do, needs God and His

help.

2. What age did religion become important to you?

I grew up in a deeply pious family and so very early on religion was

an important part of my life. We prayed together as a family,

attended holy mass together and took part in different events offered

by the church. I had a very natural relationship to God. For me He

wasn’t just someone who lived far away some where in Heaven but rather

He was like a good friend who was always at my side and was also there

for me.

3. Why is religion important (or not) to teenagers in this country?

As I think can be said for all countries, for some teenagers religion

is very important here in Slovakia and others have absoultely no

relationship to it at all. Slovakia has a very deep religious

tradition and so it is quite normal for the youth to attend holy mass

but not everyone understands the importance of it. Through western

influence and media people have started to have the feeling that they

don’t need God anymore but there are still many deeply pious families

who have taught their kids to pray especially when they are afraid or

have difficulties or when they are sad. That is something that can be

seen quite often here in the city of Nitra, again and again when one

goes into a church one finds youth or young adults there with their

heads bent down in prayer. There are also special masses during the

week for the youth and students and the church is often packed full of

young people who are gathered together to praise God and draw strength

from Him for their daily lives.