50 Years of Healing
Check back frequently as we celebrate our anniversary year!
A Golden Jubilee & A Foundation for the Future
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saint Luke Institute in 2027 offers a defining moment within Healing Hearts, Renewing Hope: 2030 — a moment not only to honor a rich legacy of healing, but to galvanize the future of our mission.
The year-long celebration is framed around the unifying theme, "50 Years of Healing—A Future of Hope." This theme bridges past, present, and future, highlighting SLI's enduring impact while inviting stakeholders into the next chapter of expansion and innovation.
Planning of anniversary events throughout the year will be led by a committee of leaders from within the Saint Luke Institute Board and Staff. Additional details will be shared here throughout the anniversary year. Also during the year, this page will be a focal point for celebrating the rich legacy of the staff and positive accomplishments of Saint Luke Institute from its small beginnings in 1977 to the multi-office, international Catholic mental health and spiritual care center it is today.
Check back often for updates!
SLI Through the Years
Some photos from our history. Click to view larger. More to be added soon!
Our History
For nearly five decades, Saint Luke Institute has brought the healing ministry of Christ to thousands of Catholic clergy and men and women religious. In doing so, we have helped hundreds of Catholic institutions around the world better serve their parishes and missions.
Founded in 1977 as an outpatient substance abuse program in the Washington, D.C., area, today the Institute serves clergy and religious throughout the English-speaking world who suffer from a broad range of psychological and behavioral concerns. Since its founding, SLI has served over 15,000 individuals through our residential, outpatient, and education programs.
A hallmark of Saint Luke Institute is our capacity to update and expand services to meet professional behavioral health standards and our clients’ changing realities on a national and international scale. Key milestones include the following programs and initiatives. Additional details will be added over the course of the anniversary year.
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2026
Fifth Conference on Human Formation celebrates record crowd, focus on personality in formation
Saint Luke Center, Louisville, Celebrates 15 Years
SLI Works with Archdiocese of Washington Office in Support of Mental Wellbeing of Ministers
SLI Builds Connections, Partners in Healing at Missouri Events
SLI Events in Arizona, Texas Highlight New Opportunities
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2025
SLI Participates in First-of-its-Kind Global Mental Wellness Conference in Rome
SLI October Benefit Raises$400K; Staff Members Honored for ‘Healing the Healers’
Manchester Office Celebrates 20 Years
Rev. Patrick J. McDevitt, CM, Ph.D. named President & CEO
Day-treatment outpatient care program named Emmaus Program
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2024
Annual Benefit Honors Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre
Rev. Quinn Conners, O.Carm Selected as Interim President & CEO
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2023
Rev. James Garvey, O. Praem. named President & CEO
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2021
Transition to day-treatment outpatient care and office location in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland
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2017
A flexible-length inpatient program is established
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2015
Rev. David Songy, OFM. Cap, STL, Psy.D. named President & CEO
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2013
Assumed temporary leadership in support of a counseling center location in St. Louis, Missouri
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2012
An additional outpatient clinic location is established north of Baltimore, Maryland, and SLIconnect online learning platform is launched
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2011
An office is established in Louisville, Kentucky
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2005
Board of Directors authorizes establishment of satelite office in Manchester, England
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2000
Outpatient services established in Silver Spring, Maryland for clergy, religious women and men, and laity
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1997
First publication of a quarterly clinical education resource, now LukeNotes(opens in new tab)
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1996
SLI relocates to former Trinitarian seminary on New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD with expanded inpatient care
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1994
Halfway house program
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1993
Residential program for religious sisters established
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1988
First donor reception held at the Apostolic Nuniciature in Washigton, DC
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1981
Residential program for clergy established through purchase of several homes in Suitland neighborhood; clinical evaluation instrument for long-term care needs assessment establsihed
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1979
Move to the former convent of the Bernadine Sisters in Suitland, Maryland; establishment of mental health outpatient program for clergy
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1977
Saint Luke Institute founded as an outpatient program for priests and religious seeking recovery from alcohol addiction.
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