View an Easter video message from our President & CEO Rev. Patrick J. McDevitt, CM, PhD. A transcript of his remarks follows the video.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we celebrate the radiant joy of Easter amid the dark shadows of war in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the unrest, uncertainty, and anxiety gripping our societies, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ bursts forth like the dawn after the darkest night. Our wars, divisions, and societal turmoil are what St. Paul describes as cosmic labor pains—giving birth to abundant life, freedom, hope, and glory. This is not superficial piety or a sentimental holiday, as secular culture often portrays it with bunnies, pastel colors, flowers, and candy. Rather, the Resurrection—celebrated for fifty days—is the unshakable truth that love has triumphed over death. It offers us a living hope that transforms doubt, complacency, and suffering into promise, and despair into purpose and mission.
In the words of St. Peter, God has given us “a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” The late Pope Francis once said, “I am convinced that the future of humanity does not lie solely in the hands of great leaders, the powerful, and the elite. It is fundamentally in the hands of people and their ability to organize.” The Resurrection calls us to proclaim boldly, to be witnesses, and to be bearers of hope in the darkness of sin and death. As he also urged, “Let us sow hope… Stand up, all you sowers of peace!”
Easter rekindles the fire of hope that generates new life. It calls us to action, not complacency. It transforms our “Way of the Cross” into the “Way of Light,” changing how we live each day. This means letting go of old and tired mindsets—especially the mindset of conflict and war—and choosing instead to counter cynicism with idealism, negativity with optimism, and despair with hope.
My dear brothers and sisters, hope is generative. It is a theological virtue—a gift from God that gives birth to new life and renewal. Pope Leo XIV reminded us at the end of 2025 to entrust even the pain of war to Providence, trusting in “the wonders of his grace and mercy.” Hope means placing our burdens into the gentle and loving heart of God. And as St. Julian of Norwich reminds us, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Let us recommit ourselves this Easter to be true pilgrims of hope: to pray unceasingly for peace, to engage in dialogue with patience, to reach across divides, to speak words that uplift, to serve those in need, to dream boldly for the future, and to act with justice. As St. Paul assures us, “hope does not disappoint.”
The Saint Luke Institute mission of healing and caring for clergy, religious, and all who minister is deeply rooted in the Easter promise of the Paschal Mystery. For nearly fifty years, Saint Luke Institute has accompanied countless men and women from despair to renewed life and ministry. Hope is not just a word we use—it is the lived experience we witness every day. Indeed, we have learned as much about hope from those we serve as we have offered to them.
Saint Luke Institute looks to the future with great hope and renewed energy. We are diligently developing our new strategic plan, Healing Hearts, Renewing Hope: 2030. At its heart is a commitment to strengthen and expand our clinical, spiritual, and educational programs so that we may respond more effectively to the evolving needs of clergy and religious, while also extending our outreach to all who seek healing.
You will be hearing more about Healing Hearts, Renewing Hope: 2030 in the months ahead. In the meantime, we humbly ask you to keep this important initiative in your daily prayers. You can also support our mission by making a recurring donation through our “Partners in Healing Society,” or make a one-time gift at SLI.org/donate.
On behalf of the entire Saint Luke Institute family, may your hearts be healed and your hope renewed this Easter season.
God bless you.