Dear Friends,

After two years of Covid chaos, and now watching images of little orphaned Ukrainian children with their backpacks walking their way to Poland, I have decided to force myself to live and see the deeper truth of this Lenten season as a time of Love. Sacrifice is love, as St. John says. Love must never die, as Lenten promises have done in my life over the years. Mary’s faithful holding of her brutalized Son is the pinnacle of God’s love on that passion-filled Good Friday. It is what makes possible Easter Sunday morning.

Almsgiving is one of the tools of Lent. As you know, it is also one of the foundations of Tepeyac OB/GYN and Divine Mercy Care. You have been the eyes and hands and hearts of the Good Shepherd for us. 

You know the story — the Good Samaritan met the immediate need of the left for dead victim — but the Samaritan also came back to make sure the man was still being cared for. You don’t simply stick money in an envelope. You do not distance yourself from almsgiving. You see the faces of those in need. You help them with your own hands, which are hand in hand with ours.

Almsgiving IS medicine as mercy.

For you it is an opportunity to care for the least as you would care for yourself and your family. For us it is a reminder that we as healthcare professionals must go beyond excellent technical and scientific medicine, directly into the heart of medicine — a heart that is wounded, lacerated and filled with God’s mercy for others and ourselves.

Your sacrifice of alms and our sacrifice of care BOTH united to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross IN LOVE, and ONLY IN LOVE does three things:

  • Helps us care for bodies and souls to provide forgiveness and gratitude; 
  • Returns medicine to it’s merciful roots…reminding us medicine is not a commodity; 
  • With wars, hatred and abortion all around us, helps us as children of the Father to be instruments for renewing the face of the earth.

From of all of us at Divine Mercy Care and Tepeyac OBGYN, we are so grateful for your sacrifices. 
A Patient's Story: Sandra
“You can fall in despair sometimes when so many women around you are pregnant,” explains Sandra, about her challenges with infertility.

The pain motivated Sandra to create, with her friend Megan, Hannah’s Hope — a support group of prayer and comfort for women like themselves.

Sandra didn’t always have trouble conceiving. In fact, when Sandra was a teenager, she found herself in an unplanned pregnancy.

As a patient at Tepeyac OB/GYN, she found loving Christian doctors, full of hope for her difficult situation who prayed with her and encouraged her. Sandra had a supportive family as well.

At age 15 she gave birth to a baby boy. Living with her family — three generations under one roof — proved to be one of the best decisions of her life, allowing Sandra to go to college to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

A a nurse, Sandra has seen first-hand the lack of Christian hope in the medical world, which makes her even more grateful and fortunate for the care she received at Tepeyac OB/GYN.

Sandra sees that “nurses and doctors are starving spiritually. Doctors are able to heal patients but ultimately the healing comes from God. No one prays with or for patients.”

Today, with her son about to graduate college, Sandra is married and she and her husband would like to start a family. But they’re experiencing the pain and sorrow of infertility.

She is optimistic: “Every woman has that desire to be a mother. It’s wired in us from God. I thank God for the time I’ve had to raise my son, go to daily Mass and adoration. It’s all in God’s timing.”

For more information about Hannah’s Hope please contact Sandra or Megan at HannahsHOPE2021@gmail.com. The group meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6 pm in the Tepeyac OB/GYN waiting room.
Volunteer Spotlight: Katie
“It’s a lot of fun, and good for arthritis!”

Katie gives her time and talent to Divine Mercy Care and Tepeyac OB/GYN by crocheting baby blankets for our Infant Gift Basket Program.

Katie understands the value of life. Recently retired as a cardiovascular nurse, she still remembers a profound moment in her career when she came face to face with abortion. 

Thirty years ago, working a shift in the maternity ward, she was told to assist in an abortion. Katie refused to participate.

The experience ignited in her a strong desire to help in the pro-life cause.

Living in a 1-bedroom condominium, Katie frequently runs out of space for all the blankets and yarn. She usually has to keep some of it in small crates in the trunk of her car as well. When considering all the yarn she has purchased to make baby blankets, Katie laughs: “Well It’s good business for Michaels!” 

Thank you Katie for your sacrifice and service as a nurse and for using your gifts to give so many mothers and their babies a loving start with the warmth and comfort of a beautifully hand- crocheted baby blanket.
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