The foundress of the Union of St. Catherine of Siena of the Missionaries of the School, Luigia Tincani is also the foundress of “Mater Ecclesiae”, the Superior Institute of Religious Sciences. The Institute,

being inspired by the wisdom and the doctrine of St. Thomas Aquinas from 1964,  is inserted into the University dedicated to him, namely, the “Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas” (PUST) “Angelicum”.
This Institute was established academically in 1972 by the “Congregation for Catholic Education” (CEC), as an Institute of the Faculty of Theology. On 21 June 2006 it obtained from the same Congregation the approval of the new programmes that have been reviewed and updated according to the revision made in relation to the “Processo di Bologna” and are now conformed to the Instruction for the Superior Institutes of Religious Sciences approved by the CEC on 26 June 2008. The Institute, therefore, offers a curriculum on the lines of the Religious Sciences recognised by the European University System. Being directed by the Missionaries of School, the Institute avails of the collaboration of the religious and lay staff hailing from different universities, but it especially benefits from the collaboration of the Dominican Fathers of the Angelicum and from there derives the motto “Caritas Veritatis”. Christ, the Truth and Light of the World is the foundation, the core and the goal of the academic organization. Dedicated to Mary Mother of the Church the Institute answers the needs of our multiethnic society and offers the study of various subjects giving a special emphasis to the ecumenical, intercultural and interfaith dialogue. For this reason, besides the Italian section, the Institute has an English section to meet the needs of several religious congregations asking for a biblical-theological-philosophical study as a precious contribution to the training of the young coming from different countries.

Master for Educators
The Superior Institute of Religious Sciences “Mater Ecclesiae” together with the Spirituality Institute of the same Faculty, offers to members of religious communities holding the necessary qualifications a Master for Educators of one year length (two semesters) .