(Note: The clinic is in need of volunteer doctors, nurses, nurse
practitioners, physician assistants, and bilingual office staff. For more information, contact: Alexandra Luevano, Director of the Mother
of Mercy Clinic #703-420-8992.)
Free medical clinic opens December 6
For Immediate
Release
November 27, 2017
MANASSAS, Va. – On Wednesday, December 6, the Mother of Mercy
Free Clinic in Manassas will be officially open for business. With this
clinic, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (CCDA) will serve the
estimated 4,500 people living in low-income households without insurance in
Manassas and Manassas Park.
Details
When: Wednesday, December 6, 3:30-8 p.m.
Where: Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic, 9380 Forestwood Lane, Suite
B, Manassas
The medical clinic, which
has a waiting room, four exam rooms and other offices, will be open four hours
a week with volunteer doctors, nurses and personnel. It
will primarily serve adults since children of low-income families can often
receive medical insurance (i.e. Medicaid). During the non-clinical hours, CCDA will use the facility
to provide a broader array of assistance related to immigration issues, mental
health counseling, and referrals to other services.
The clinic will be supported by healthcare contributions
from Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center. The free
medical clinic will also use a local lab for additional patient services. In
addition, CCDA is receiving consultative services offered by the Bon Secours
Richmond Health System, a Catholic healthcare institution, to set up an ethics
committee for the clinic. Catholic Charities is also cooperating with
Tepeyac Clinic of Divine Mercy Care to provide mutual support for clients.
How the clinic came to be
A group of parishioners from All Saints Catholic Church
in Manassas and Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville participated in a
pro-life ministry in which they would reach out to mothers and couples who
approached a Manassas abortion clinic. This group also reached out to the staff
at the abortion clinic in the hopes of fostering productive and respectful
dialogue.
After the owner of the clinic passed
away, the owner’s wife, who assumed ownership and control of the clinic’s
operation, agreed to shut the clinic down and sell to a group
of investors called the BVM Foundation (for Blessed Virgin Mary). The BVM
Foundation approached CCDA about how the former abortion clinic could be changed
to serve a noble and redemptive purpose. CCDA agreed to open a free clinic to
serve the uninsured in the Manassas area and has embarked on this mission to
prolong life and to promote the dignity of the human person.
In
a statement issued earlier this month, Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge,
Bishop of Arlington, said, “Each day, God calls us to help our brothers and
sisters in need and to be instruments of His mercy and healing
love. This clinic is in response to that call
and will open new opportunities for Catholic Charities and
dedicated volunteers to help those who otherwise may have been unable
to receive such compassionate care.”
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About Catholic Charities of the Diocese
of Arlington
The
Mother of Mercy Free Clinic is one of 17 programs run by Catholic Charities of
the Diocese of Arlington to serve the poor in mind, body and spirit. To learn
more about this work and how you can support it, please visit www.ccda.net.
About the Catholic Diocese of Arlington
The Diocese of Arlington is home to an estimated population
of more than 600,000 Catholics living in 21 counties and seven cities in
central and northern Virginia. Parishioners live out their faith at 70 parishes
and six missions, and more than 17,500 students attend 45 Catholic pre-schools,
elementary and high schools.
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