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Tepeyac OB/GYN’s altar blessing

Zoey Maraist | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Every day at noon, staff and occasionally patients of Tepeyac OB/GYN in Fairfax gather in the Chapel of Our Lady to pray. For years, Tepeyac has had a dedicated spot for prayer in its facility, and the small chapel in its current space has been there since the office was blessed by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge in 2017

An altar for that chapel was blessed Feb. 25 by Father Dennis W. Kleinmann, pastor of St. Veronica Church in Chantilly. 

Though the medical clinic was founded by a Catholic, Dr. John Bruchalski, some of the staff and many of the patients are not Catholic. So they try to make the space welcoming to those of other faiths or no faith. Still, Christ remains at the center of their mission, said Bruchalski. 

Staff filled the small chapel for the blessing and Mass, celebrated by Father Kleinmann and assisted by Deacon J. Paul Ochenkowski. In his homily, Father Kleinmann spoke about the Gospel reading in which Jesus casts out a demon that the apostles were unable to cast out. 

“(Jesus) says, there are some things that can’t be done without prayer.  Within these walls, I know (that prayer is a part of) the work that you do, and hopefully that continues (outside of this chapel),” he said. “Prayer needs to be such an important part of our lives. To have a room dedicated to prayer is a real blessing.”

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