SLI October Benefit Update: Nearly $400K Raised; Staff Members Honored for ‘Healing the Healers’

Saint Luke Institute (SLI) benefactors, friends, Board members, and staff gathered from across the Greater D.C. region, and online via a livestream, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to celebrate the organization’s October Benefit. This event, which serves as one of the organization’s major annual fundraisers, garnered nearly $400,000 through gifts and pledges, including an additional $6,000 raised at the event through in-person cash, checks, and online giving. The 200+ person standing-room only crowd saw two SLI staff members from Silver Spring, Maryland recognized: Third Order Regular (TOR) Franciscan Rev. Kenneth D. Phillips, M.S., Coordinator of Continuing Care, received a Special Service Award, and Msgr. William (‘Fr. Bill’) English, received the Saint Luke Award . The festivities also included the endowment of a new Spirituality Award in honor of Msgr. English.

SLI is an independent, international Catholic mental health treatment and education center for priests, deacons, religious women and men, and other ministers and leaders in the Church. Over its nearly fifty-year history, SLI has served the needs of dozens of arch/dioceses and religious communities of women and men in support of the mental health and spiritual wellness of thousands of priests, deacons, sisters and brothers.

Hosted by Tim & Mary Harper, the ballroom of the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland served as the backdrop for the Benefit, as SLI President & CEO Rev. Patrick J. McDevitt, CM, Ph.D., welcomed a standing-room only crowd of over 200 people at the event.

This year’s successful Benefit included over 100 individual and organizational sponsors giving between $1,000 and $35,000+, and boasted an additional 100 new friends and supporters. In highlighting the impact of the gifts of each person, Rev. McDevitt reminded those gathered that every gift helps SLI say “Yes” to those seeking care. “Your generosity helps us with that bridge to continue our mission,” he added. He also emphasized the growing need for SLI’s services among church leaders and ministers: “Saint Luke Institute is dedicated to healthy ministers for a vibrant church and a healed world. What we do at SLI is change lives—and give people new starts in ministry,” in the spirit of St. Luke the Evangelist, the organization’s patron.

The highlights of the evening included the honors to Rev. Phillips and Msgr. English, who have dedicated their lives to the wellbeing and care of clergy, religious women and men and many others. Msgr. English is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington of over 55 years, and has been a member of the SLI Spirituality Team for over a decade. Rev. Phillips, M.S., Coordinator of Continuing Care, has provided a ministry of presence and healing to hundreds of clergy and religious clients served by SLI for over 40 years.

First, Stephen Carroll, Ph.D., LCPC, Director of Continuing Care, formally presented the Special Service Award to Fr. Phillips. He noted that both Fr. Phillips and Msgr. English “manifest the mission of Saint Luke Institute because they heal the healers.” Fr. Phillips joined the TOR community in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1971. Dr. Carroll further mentioned the array of ministries of Fr. Phillips prior to SLI, which included parish and hospital ministry, prison chaplaincy, education, and as Director of Spiritual Care at St. Elizabeth’s Psychiatric Hospital in Washington, D.C. He continued, noting Fr. Phillips “has journeyed with clients and served as a companion as they transitioned back to ministry,” and has “spent 30 years traveling the world to counsel priests, sisters and brothers on incorporating their recoveries into their ministry.”

After receiving the award, Fr. Phillips called it an “awesome privilege” to be part of SLI, and reflected on the Gospel of Luke as one of “healing and compassion,” including the parables of the Prodigal Son, and other vignettes of healing. He reflected on how his many prior ministries had prepared the way for him to engage in his work at SLI with deep compassion and awareness for the needs of clergy and religious. He expressed gratitude for all the ways in which those present at the event were serving the continuation of that healing ministry.

Then, Christine Gill, Esq., Chair of the SLI Board of Directors, introduced and formally presented Msgr. English with the Saint Luke Award. In her remarks, she noted the purpose of the Award is to honor someone who is dedicated to “the rebuilding of the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual life of those in need,” and manifesting “the Gospel ideals of compassion, charity and a belief that all persons are brothers and sisters in Christ.” She noted that Msgr. English has “countless parishioners, friends, and fellow priests” over his lifetime and provided a summary of his decades of service in the Archdiocese of Washington. In his 10 years of service at SLI on the spirituality team, Msgr. English “explored how God is at work” in the lives of clients, who are listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit during their mental health healing journey. Mrs. Gill recognized in this process a blending of “the centuries-old roots and best contemporary practices of Catholic spirituality,” and how, through this process “clients are … healing and strengthening their own relationship with God, allowing them to return to active ministry” with skills to help others do the same.

In his own remarks, Msgr. English highlighted the dedication of the staff to the priests and religious which seek help from the Institute. Following anecdotes of thanks to family, friends, and SLI staff, he gave thanks to God as the driving force behind the work that happens each day at SLI: “Look at Saint Luke Institute and see how great God is,” he said.

Following the awards ceremonies, Benefit Co-Chairs Lisa Kazor-Christovich & CDR (ret.) Dan Christovich shared anecdotes of Msgr. English’s ministry and made a special announcement – the endowment of the Saint Luke Institute Msgr. William English Spirituality Award. This Award “will be presented each year to an individual who integrates deep spirituality with mental health care,” Dan Christovich said. The recipient will be “humble, and an accepting reconcilier, in honor of Fr. Bill,” he continued, and noted the award will be given annually in honor of Msgr. English. Christovich further noted the recipient will receive a $2,500 with the award to enable professional development or training related to pastoral care. The first award will be given in 2026.

Please visit the webpage for the Benefit to view the event program, sponsors list, committees photos, full event recording and more.

[Image: Christine Gill, Esq., President of the SLI Board of Directors, Msgr. William English, and Rev. Patrick McDevitt, CM, PhD, President & CEO of SLI at the 2025 Annual Benefit.]

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About Saint Luke Institute

Saint Luke Institute is an independent, international Catholic mental health treatment center dedicated to healthy life and ministry for priests, deacons, religious and all church ministers and leaders. The mission of SLI is to bring the healing ministry of Christ through integrated psychological and spiritual treatment and education for those they serve. SLI provides clinical evaluations to identify and recommend mental health treatment, and affordable day-treatment or traditional individual or group outpatient care. SLI also offers in-person and online ongoing education and psychological and spiritual wellness programs to clergy, religious, and laity, and provides candidate assessments for those preparing for seminary, diaconate or religious life.

For inquiries, visit SLI.org/contact-us.