The philosophy of the Saint Luke Institute is based on the call to heal as Jesus healed. We believe that all human life is sacred and that all persons are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We recognize that all persons are unique and possess inviolable dignity and human rights which must be respected.

We believe that reconciliation with God, others and self comes about through a ministry which strives for the wholeness of the individual – spiritual, emotional, physical, and social – and that ministry to the spiritual needs of persons, whether as residents, family, or staff, is integral to health care.

We affirm our relationship to the Roman Catholic Church and our identity as a Catholic Institution. We are committed to policies and procedures consistent with the teaching of the Church and assume responsibility for taking a prophetic stance in the face of conflicting societal values.

We respect the charisms and traditions of the religious communities and dioceses from which our residents come. We recognize and support their philosophy, beliefs, and mission.

We believe that Jesus continues his healing ministry through us as we assist in the restoration of the health of our residents in a community of faith. An essential task in our health care ministry is to participate in the creation of a caring community among our brothers and sisters with whom and to whom we minister.

We believe every person’s participation – board members, personnel, medical staff, donors, volunteers, and associates – is essential for the development of a Christian community and the implementation of Saint Luke Institute’s philosophy.

Canonical Visitation Report

As part of our on-going effort to continue and deepen our Catholic identity, periodically Saint Luke Institute requests an official visitation from the Archdiocese of Washington.  The purpose of this visitation is to review the theological and spiritual foundations of the programs at the Institute to ensure their harmony with the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Our most recent visitation was conducted in May, 2003.  The following is the summary paragraph of the visitation team's report:

"In sum, it is our conclusion that Saint Luke Institute is a fully Catholic institution, based on Catholic teaching and authentic spiritual and theological principles.  Moreover, it is the conclusion of the visitation team that the ministry provided by Saint Luke Institute is important and vital for the welfare of the Catholic Church and worthy of strong support by Church leadership, as well as a model for the treatment of priests and religious everywhere."

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