ITMME is an institution for the formation of future priests and clergy. The decision also affiliates it to the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome

On May 29, 2023, memorial of Blessed Mary Mother of the Church, the Holy See, through the Dicastery for Culture and Education, granted the renewal of the affiliation of the Maria Mater Ecclesiae Theological Institute (ITMME), located in Itapecerica da Serra (SP), to the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, granting it “public canonical juridical personality” and the ability to confer degrees in Theology and Philosophy.

ITMME is an institution directed by the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ for the formation of future priests, for the permanent formation of clergy, for the formation of religious men and women and for the formation of lay people committed to theological and philosophical pastoral work.

In 2017, the same Dicastery had granted its first affiliation to ITMME for a period of five years. In 2020, the Dicastery established a reform in ecclesiastical studies according to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium, requesting Ecclesiastical Faculties and Higher Studies Institutes to adapt to the new regulations. With this new approval, ITMME will continue to offer bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology with pontifical value, for the formation of future priests, religious men and women, and lay people who work in theological and philosophical pastoral ministry.

“Every 5 years we have to renew this affiliation. Since 2017, we, here in Brazil, can issue the same diplomas with pontifical value that our Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome grants. The Holy See renewed our affiliation, approved our Statutes according to the new norms and, in an unprecedented way, conferred canonical and juridical ecclesiastical personality to our Maria Mater Ecclesiae Theological Institute. Each renewal is an approval from the Holy See and shows the confidence that the Church has in us and in our mission,” explains Fr. Bruno do Espírito Santo, LC, director of the institute.

Several people from all over Brazil have already benefited from ITMME’s formation through bachelor’s degrees in Theology and Philosophy, or from its free and extension courses, conferences, short courses, congresses, etc., both in-person and distance learning.

Below we reproduce the translation of the Dicastery’s decree, in which it affiliates ITMME to the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome and grants it public canonical juridical personality:

DICASTERY FOR CULTURE AND EDUCATION

Prot. N. 03201/2023/E – 945/2023

In consideration of the request legitimately presented by the Grand Chancellor of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, with headquarters in the city of Rome; having received the favorable opinion of the Ordinary of the Place, granted on March 15, 2023, and of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil on April 3, 2023, in accordance with art. 11 of the Instruction on the Affiliation of Higher Studies Institutes of December 8, 2020, having examined the matter in all its aspects and collected the resolutions of the members of the Dicastery, in accordance with art. 63, § 1 of the Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium and of the aforementioned Instruction on the Affiliation of Higher Studies Institutes, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, by this present decree, canonically erects the Maria Mater Ecclesiae Theological Institute, with headquarters in the city of Itapecerica da Serra (SP) and, according to the norm of art. 10, § 2 of the aforementioned Instruction, grants the same Institute public canonical juridical personality and, at the same time, affiliates it to the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome and declares it affiliated for the five-year period of the first cycle, namely: to grant the academic degree of graduation through the affiliation Faculty, under the guidance and supervision of the same Faculty; observing the particular Statutes approved by this Dicastery; observing what must be observed by law; there being nothing to the contrary.

Given in Rome, at the headquarters of this Dicastery, on May 29, 2023, memorial of Blessed Mary, Mother of the Church.

Most Reverend Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, Secretary of the Dicastery

Dr. Antonella Sciarrone Alibrandi, Undersecretary of the Dicastery

With information from the Brazil Communications Office.