Our Story
In 1994, when Dr. John Bruchalski established Tepeyac, he was told there was no way to be successful as a fully pro-life OB/GYN practice. But it quickly became obvious that the demand for life-affirming care was there.
By 2000, the skyrocketing price of medical malpractice insurance for the rapidly expanding practice prompted a phone-a-thon fundraiser to help keep the doors of Tepeyac OB/GYN open. Dr. Bruchalski recognized that if Tepeyac’s mission was going to be realized — to provide excellent medical care, to practice in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church, and to see the poor every day — Tepeyac OB/GYN would need to rely on the generosity of donors who shared a passion for life-affirming care.
The result was the founding of Divine Mercy Care. Divine Mercy Care (DMC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance pro-life healthcare through programs that serve those in need, and educate and inspire caregivers and medical professionals. DMC raises funds to provide charity care at Tepeyac OB/GYN and aspires to ensure that all women have access to the life-affirming care they deserve.
In addition to its central mission of providing Tepeyac OB/GYN with the funds needed to support charity care patients who might otherwise turn to abortion as their only alternative, Divine Mercy Care has also supported efforts to educate and inspire future medical professionals as well as unify pro-life care providers. In 2018, DMC helped create the Pro-Women’s Healthcare Centers (PWHC) network, a consortium of autonomous centers nationwide that unite together under shared standards of high-quality life-affirming medicine. Tepeyac OB/GYN was one of the first providers to be designated as a Pro-Women’s Healthcare Center, and today there are 12 certified PWHCs across the United States. In 2019, Divine Mercy Care launched PLAN, aimed at bringing together a network of assistance providers across the community to provide women and families with life-affirming medical, social and material support. The program is now a project of the Susan B. Anthony Education Fund list.
Both Tepeyac OB/GYN and Divine Mercy Care continue to build a culture of life, to meet people where they are, and to transform hearts through healthcare. Dr. Bruchalski’s story reminds us all that pro-life medicine can transform the world, one heart at a time.
Our Mission
Divine Mercy Care is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing pro-life medicine and transforming hearts through healthcare. We advance this mission by financially supporting providers of life-affirming care and helping to grow the next generation of pro-life doctors and other medical professionals.
Our primary beneficiary is Tepeyac OB/GYN, a pro-life medical practice based in Fairfax, Virginia.
Divine Mercy Care’s financial support allows Tepeyac OB/GYN to serve women’s medical, material, and emotional needs, especially the physically, emotionally, spiritually or financially underserved.
Divine Mercy Care also develops and implements strategies to support aspiring pro-life doctors through seminars, scholarships, and medical rotations with Tepeyac OB/GYN as they strive to practice pro-life medicine in an environment averse to the culture of life.
Divine Mercy Care Staff
Anna O'Neill
Business Manager
Anna O’Neill is the Business Manager at Divine Mercy Care who is completely dedicated to advancing pro-life healthcare. She began her professional journey at Tepeyac and Divine Mercy Care from 2005-2012. Anna is excited to be returning to work after being a stay at home mom to her 3 beautiful children – all delivered by Tepeyac OB/GYN. One of the programs closest to her heart is the Infant Memorial Service. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Donna Johnson
Office Manager
Donna Johnson joined the Divine Mercy Care team in 2016—initially as a volunteer until January 2017, when she was hired as a part-time Administrative Assistant. She has over ten years’ experience as an Administrative Assistant in both the corporate and government sectors, and 34 years of being a stay-at-home wife and mother. Donna enjoys using her organizational skills for a mission that aligns with her personal beliefs. Outside the office, Donna enjoys spending time with her family, solving puzzles, watching old movies, and crocheting; and welcomed her first grandchild in the summer of 2017.
Derek Hall
Development Coordinator
Derek Hall moved from Michigan to Virginia in 2022 when his wife Clare joined Tepeyac OB/GYN as a nurse midwife. When they first met at the University of Dayton, Derek told Clare she would one day find a partner who would share her dreams of missional medicine and compassionate care for the marginalized. When Clare moved to Michigan for her graduate programs, they started dating, eventually married, and traveled to Ethiopia and Kenya for medical mission work. Derek is completing his MBA in Catholic Philanthropy from the University of Mary in Spring 2024. As DMC’s Development Coordinator, Derek hopes to bring people together around the mission of life-affirming healthcare.
Board of Directors
John Bruchalski, M.D.
Founder
Dr. Bruchalski is the founder of the pro-life medical practice Tepeyac OB/GYN and Divine Mercy Care, its fundraising and educational organization.
Dr. Bruchalski performed abortions in his residency before experiencing a dramatic and profound conversion that led him to found Tepeyac as a way to help women with life-affirming medicine.
Dr. Bruchalski was trained at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, the Eastern Virginia Medical Center, and the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine.
Kathryn Doherty
Chair
Kathryn has been a Tepeyac Ob/GYN patient since 2000 and is a longtime volunteer with Divine Mercy Care. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, Paul Scolese, and their six children – Patrick, Katharine, Mary, Annie, Paul and Margaret.
A devastating fetal diagnosis for Margaret in 2013 brought Kathryn to a deeper appreciation of the importance of the pro-life medicine practiced by Tepeyac doctors, including the special support provided by Tepeyac’s Kristen Anderson Perinatal Hospice program to families with critically ill unborn children. Kathryn credits Tepeyac’s unique approach to prenatal care for the survival of her youngest child when other doctors gave no hope. With gratitude, Kathryn was eager to serve Divine Mercy Care and is dedicated to ensuring that more women have access to the high-quality and compassionate care she received at Tepeyac.
Kathryn has a doctorate in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park. She served as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education during President George W. Bush’s administration. She is a member of the Basilica of Saint Mary Parish where she leads the local chapter of the Junior Catholic Daughters of America and serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to the parish’s homebound.
Reverend Gerald Weymes
Chaplain
Father Gerald Weymes was born in Dublin, Ireland in October of 1942. Father studied with the Missionary Order of the Divine Word before later transferring to the secular priesthood. He studied philosophy with the Cistercians Monks at Mt Melleray, Cappoquin, Co, Waterford. From there he attended St. John’s College, Waterford City for four years of theology.
Father Weymes was ordained for the Diocese of Richmond in 1974 and appointed by Bishop Sullivan to St. Agnes Parish in Arlington. Two weeks into the month of August 1974 the Diocese of Arlington was officially established by Pope Paul VI. Father chose to serve in the Diocese of Arlington, where he has remained for over 40 years, serving in various parishes.
Monique Baroudi
Secretary
Monique Baroudi is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BS in Systems Engineering) and is a mother of six who is blessed to parent four of her boys, while two look down from heaven. She has been a Tepeyac patient since 2000 and a Divine Mercy Care volunteer helping with the Gala since 2005.
As mother who has suffered pregnancy loss, bringing healing to others through helping organize the annual Memorial Service is something she is passionate about. Monique was awarded Divine Mercy Care’s Susan Torres Award in 2009. She marries her zeal for the pro-life movement with her analytical skills and creativity to add value to Divine Mercy Care.
When not volunteering, Monique enjoys running, swimming, sewing, crafting, entertaining, and time spent with family.
Joseph Goyette
Treasurer
Mr. Goyette joined the board in August 2017 and has had all seven of his children delivered with Tepeyac. He has been a long-time supporter of the DMC mission and is grateful to serve on the board. He is currently employed at a Cybersecurity company in Northern Virginia.
Sean Garvey
An entrepreneur by trade, Sean founded, grew and sold two IT consultancy companies, most recently selling NovusCG, Inc to IBM in late 2007.
After spending some time with IBM as Worldwide Director of Portfolio Strategy and Innovation, Sean left in the summer of 2010 to pursue two passions of his; philanthropy and early childhood development. Sean become Head of School at Renaissance Montessori School in Manassas, VA, an institution dedicated to providing the finest in early childhood education in a fashion and at a cost that best serves the community.
Sean also consults with and serves on the board of many commercial and non-for-profit organizations, helping them achieve their goals by working with them on business development and growth strategies.
Awards
Divine Mercy Care Award
Honoring those whose time, talent, and treasure advance pro-life healthcare
The Divine Mercy Care Award is presented to the person, family, or organization that has shown exemplary and sacrificial commitment to promoting the development of Divine Mercy Care, and its principal program, Tepeyac OB/GYN, through charitable, business, and/or spiritual means and actions.
Susan M. Torres Award
Honoring those who live the Gospel of Life through the mystery of suffering
In 2005, Susan M. Torres, while comatose with a terminal condition, was maintained on life support for 12 weeks in a valiant effort to give her unborn daughter a chance to live. To that end, Susan underwent a Caesarean section at 29 weeks of pregnancy. Sadly, her daughter, baby Susan Anne Catherine Torres, later passed away. With her family’s blessing, Divine Mercy Care and Tepeyac OB/GYN established the Susan M. Torres Award in her honor.
The Susan M. Torres Award is presented to a Tepeyac OB/GYN patient who has lived out the “Gospel of Life” and the mystery of suffering through personal experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Tepeyac OB/GYN and Divine Mercy Care?
Tepeyac OB/GYN is a pro-life medical practice. Divine Mercy Care is a non-profit organization that supports the work of Tepeyac OB/GYN.
Is Divine Mercy Care a pregnancy center?
Divine Mercy Care is not a pregnancy center, it is a fundraising and educational organization.
Why does Tepeyac need Divine Mercy Care's support?
Because it is a pro-life practice, Tepeyac foregoes the revenue from services that are profitable for other OB/GYNs: artificial contraception, sterilization, abortion, and unnecessary drugs and interventions.
We believe all women deserve access to life-affirming care. Tepeyac provides charity care to serve women in need. Approximately one in three pregnant patients receive financial charity support. Divine Mercy Care provides the funds to cover these patients’ medical expenses.
Does Divine Mercy Care fundraise only for Tepeyac?
Tepeyac OB/GYN is Divine Mercy Care’s primary beneficiary. Divine Mercy Care also develops and implements strategies to support aspiring pro-life doctors as they strive to practice pro-life medicine in an environment averse to the culture of life. Some of the ways Divine Mercy Care provides this support include seminars, scholarships, and medical rotations with Tepeyac.
How can I donate to Tepeyac?
Your donations to Divine Mercy Care are vital to ensuring that all women receive quality medical care. You can support Tepeyac by making a donation to Divine Mercy Care. If you would like to make a directed donation, or for more information, please contact [email protected]
What kind of financial support is available? Is financial support only available if I'm pregnant?
Tepeyac OB/GYN’s patient advocate works directly with all women in need to explore affordable access to life-affirming obstetrics and gynecological care. Please contact our patient advocate by calling 703-273-9440.
Don’t pregnancy centers and Community Health Centers fill the need for women to have medical care?
Tepeyac OB/GYN accepts patients from local pregnancy centers to provide medical care to their clients, in addition to providing a range of obstetric and gynecological care that pregnancy centers do not provide.