The Saint Monica Institute of Theology formerly known as “Saint Monica Institute of Religious Studies” was established in 2004 from the vision and desire of the Fathers of the Order of the Discalced Augustinians (OAD) in the Philippines and their formation community to give a balanced theological program and an integrated Augustinian and religious formation of candidates to the priesthood and religious life in the Philippines and in Asia.

The Institute started its operation as an extension of the Graduate School of the University of San Agustin with a Memorandum of Agreement signed by Very Rev. Fr. Antonio Desideri, OAD (Superior General) and His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, DD (Archbishop of Cebu) on August 27, 2004 (Feast of Saint Monica) at Tabor Hill, Talamban, Cebu City. The extension program of Graduate school was later terminated in 2014.

During this period, the Faculty and Staff of the Institute were made up of priests from the Order of the Discalced Augustinians, the Order of Saint Augustine Fathers and from other Religious Congregations in Cebu. A pool of instructors and resource persons with qualified credentials was formed to cater to the subjects contained in the 4-year curriculum. The first year of operation had 14 students and in the second year, another 14 were added, not to mention some religious sisters attending as observers to enhance their formation to consecrated life. To date, the Institute has recorded more than 100 graduates of the General Theological Program and some with Master of Arts in Religious Studies.

On may 19, 2025, the Saint Monica Institute of Theology received the approval of affiliation with the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (UST) Manila Philippines from the Dicastery for Culture and Education Rome. Hence, the Institute now offers a three-year Ecclesiastical degree program with the award of Baccalaureate in Theology granted by the faculty of Theology of Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (UST) Manila.

While the Institute aims to be the center of theological studies and to cater for the academic and theological formation of candidates to priesthood, religious life and lay ministers of the Catholic Church in Cebu as well as in Asia, it braces for the challenges of the Church and the contemporary world. By achieving this vision, the institute would be a contribution of the Philippine province of the Discalced Augustinians to the Church not only in the Archdiocese of Cebu but to the countries in Asia and beyond.