Our mission is threefold.

As an Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology directly under the supervision of the Holy See, LST serves the particular churches of the Philippines, Asia and even beyond in the preaching of the Gospel. The mission of our faculty is to theologize with our students in a way that is profound, creative, beautiful, attractive, inspiring, and even disturbing. Together, professors and students “seek to understand better, further develop and more effectively communicate the meaning of Christian Revelation. They investigate the ways in which theology can shed light on specific questions raised by contemporary culture (Ex corde Ecclesiae 29), many of which are so complex, difficult, at times disconcerting. At LST, we commit ourselves to this mission of theologizing in communion always and intensely with the hierarchy and with the local, particular and the universal Church in the whole work of evangelization.

As an Asian and International Faculty of Theology, LST commits itself to theological formation that is contextualized. Here in LST, we have institutionalized a program called the Asian Theological Program. Its goal is to ensure that preparation for ministry in Asian contexts, including the Philippines, remains an integral part of LST. This formation requires enabling our students to understand and communicate the Gospel within their contexts, to reflect critically on these contexts in the light of the Gospel and to enrich the Catholic tradition with concerns arising from these contexts (ATP). For majority of our students who are from the Philippines, this Asian and global perspective in theologizing can serve as a powerful experience of the church as both “particular” and as “universal” as they reflect on the Gospel of Jesus locally in the context of their parish or city, or the entire country but always with an Asian and global perspective, never narrow nor parochial.

Since most of our graduates, when back in their field of mission, will be working with and ministering to peoples of Asia and its various cultural and religious traditions, so also we strive to prepare them for mission in such a context in various ways among which:

• by offering courses that have an explicit Asian content like Asian Church History and Asian religions,
• courses that discuss issues common to Asian contexts like migration and care for our common home,
• courses like “Contextual Theology” and “Liturgical Inculturation” that highlight the importance of context in understanding Christian doctrine and practice (ATP).

As a Jesuit Faculty of Theology, LST takes active part in the implementation of the Society of Jesus” Universal Apostolic Preferences from 2019-2029.

The UAP are the fruit of a process of discernment led by Fr. General Arturo Sosa SJ that serve as the road map of the Society of Jesus in our mission. These are (1) to show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment; (2) to walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice; (3) to accompany the young in the creation of a hope-filled future; and (4) to collaborate in the care of our Common Home.

Come, join us at LST, and together in this lively, multi-cultural and young community, experience our brand of theology that is devotedly ecclesial, Asian and Jesuit that breathes for mission and service according to the mind of our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Yours in Our Lord.