Rev. Patrick J. McDevitt, C.M., has been named President and CEO of St. Luke Institute, an independent, international Catholic mental health treatment and education center for priests, deacons, religious women and men, and other ministers in Silver Spring, Md.
Fr. McDevitt served as Provincial Superior for the Congregation of the Mission Western Province from 2020 to 2024 and, most recently, was Chancellor and Director of Mission for the Diocese of Belleville, Ill.
Fr. McDevitt succeeds Rev. Quinn Conners, O.Carm., Ph.D., and will begin his term on August 4, 2025.
“The entire Board quickly recognized in Fr. McDevitt’s background and capabilities the qualities of a leader which will strengthen SLI now and in the future,” said Christine Gill, Esq., President of the Board of Directors of SLI. “As we near our 50th anniversary, we are both overjoyed and excited that Fr. McDevitt is joining the SLI team, where his excellent leadership skills will be of great service to our ongoing mission of mental health and spiritual care for clergy and religious.”
“I am overjoyed to join Saint Luke Institute as its new President,” Fr. McDevitt said. “St. Vincent de Paul, the founder of my community, called his members to dedicate their lives to the formation and care of the clergy, religious, and laity in ministry. The mission and work of SLI beautifully aligns with that of St. Vincent de Paul, and my life’s work.”
Fr. McDevitt was born and raised in Chicago and was ordained to the priesthood in 1986. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. He received his M.Div. from St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Col., and his B.A. from St. Mary’s College Seminary in Perryville, Mo.
He is a Professor Emeritus of DePaul University, a Vincentian-sponsored school in Chicago and the largest Catholic university in the United States. Fr. McDevitt taught psychological assessment, psychopathology, and counseling theory, and he supervised practicums and internships. His research interests include the psychology and spirituality of professional ministers and human service professionals, exploring effective methods in clinical practice, and clinical work related to personality disorders. He has written on education, leadership development, the psychosocial influences on ministry and education, and on aspects of community mental health.
Throughout his professional career, Fr. McDevitt has maintained a small private practice of counseling and spiritual direction for clergy, religious, and laity.
Fr. McDevitt served as President of All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland, from 2011 to 2016. In 2019, he was appointed the Rector and Superior of the the DePaul Center, the Vincentian seminary in Nairobi, Kenya.
Fr. McDevitt has served in community and civic leadership through his work on boards and through membership in various professional associations.
As he takes up his work as President, Fr. McDevitt highlighted recent remarks by Pope Leo XIV to the priests of Rome saying that they “are all precious in the eyes of God,” and assuring them of his closeness, affection and willingness to walk with them. “Similarly, I hope that everyone – clergy, religious, or lay – who comes to SLI will know that awareness of God’s precious love, especially through the excellent care provided by our clinicians, spiritual integrators and staff,” Fr. McDevitt said. “Walking together with the SLI community, I look forward to supporting our mission of love, healing, and care.”
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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.