Prolife Miracle: Mother of Mercy Clinic displaces abortion mill

By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Jan 18, 2019 | In On the Good

For twenty-seven years an abortion clinic plied its grisly trade in Manassas, Virginia. Shortly after it got started, a pro-life counseling center called AAA Women for Choice opened up next door to intercept and help pregnant women.

Peaceful demonstrations, along with prayer and fasting, became a fact of life in an effort to close the clinic, with the support and presence of priests from All Saints parish and the bishop of Arlington. In recent years, the pro-life witness took the form of 40 Days for Life, and prayers intensified.

The abortion mill closed in late 2015, amid rumors that at least one of the practitioners was undergoing a profound change of heart. The building was purchased by the local BVM Foundation, which then teamed up with diocesan Catholic Charities to open the Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic in 2017. Then the original pro-life center closed so that the two spaces could be combined to form one medical center.

Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington blessed the facility a few days ago, including the 1,000th ultrasound machine donated by the national Knights of Columbus in conjunction with the local council in Warrenton and the BVM Foundation. The combined space houses facilities for medical treatment for the poor, prenatal care, adoption services, the Gabriel Project (serving pregnant women in need), and Project Rachel (ministry to post-abortive women).

Mother of Mercy is now open about 30 hours per week. So far, there are 200 volunteers serving about 600 clients.

The new clinic also boasts an inspiring painting by Helen Dickey of Our Lady of Guadalupe which, when the light falls on it properly, reveals the baby Jesus in Mary’s womb, outlined in gold.

For details see the story in the Arlington Catholic Herald.