History of SATMI
In 1988, the St. Alphonsus’ Theologate (SAT) was established by the Redemptorists of the Cebu Vice-Province in Davao City. Initially, the student population was made up of Filipino Redemptorist theology students. By 1996, the newly-established Korean Redemptorist community sent some of their theology students to SAT for supplementary courses. In 1997, the Redemptorist Vice-Province of Bangkok started sending their theology students to SAT. By the beginning of 2000, other Religious Congregations in Davao such as the Marist Fathers, Cavanis and Missionaries of Jesus also started sending their theology students to SAT. There were some sisters and lay people who also attended classes at the Institute.
Since the mid-1990s, SAT had an agreement with the Ignatian Institute of Religious Education based in Ateneo de Davao University (IIRE-ADDU) to have courses taken in SAT credited for the M.A. in Theology program in Ateneo. With the transfer of IIRE to the Holy Cross College of Davao, negotiations were started to have the Ateneo de Davao University continue crediting SAT courses for the M.A. program. In 2005 a memorandum of agreement was signed between SAT and Ateneo and starting school year 2006-2007, the seminarians studying in SAT were able to avail of the M.A. program with the university.
In 2008, the vision of SAT as a regional Theological Mission Institute of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer was realized, with the formal Memorandum of Agreement being signed in February 2009.
Currently, the Institute provides theological formation for students from the Philippines and other parts of Asia-Oceania. The Faculty draws on the membership of the various Congregations involved in the Institute and other professionals, and includes male and female members, priests, religious and lay, from five different nationalities, reflecting the truly international nature of the Institute.
