About Dulles International Airport · Dulles, Virginia
The Interfaith Chapel at Washington Dulles International Airport is a 24-hour, nondenominational ministry serving millions of travelers and tens of thousands of airport and airline employees who pass through Dulles each year. Operated by Metropolitan Washington Airports Interfaith Chapels (MWAI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the chapel is staffed by ordained clergy and trained lay volunteers who offer pastoral care, prayer, and religious services including weekly Catholic Mass and Christian (Protestant) worship. Located in Concourse A near Gate A31, it offers a quiet oasis for travelers and employees seeking spiritual reading, private prayer, and a listening ear — and its chaplains also serve as a trauma team in times of catastrophic loss at the airport.
- Established
- 1994
Why belong here
The Dulles Interfaith Chapel is a true sanctuary in the middle of a busy airport — open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and welcoming to anyone, whether you're an employee on break, a stranded traveler, or a visitor who simply wants a few quiet minutes. It offers weekly Catholic Mass, Protestant worship, Jewish and Muslim prayer times, multilingual spiritual reading material, and a chaplaincy team trained to provide pastoral care in both ordinary and crisis situations. For Catholics facing the Sunday obligation on a travel day, or anyone seeking prayer, counsel, or a listening ear while at Dulles, the chapel is a unique ministry of presence in the heart of the nation's capital region.
Mass times at Dulles International Airport
Weekly Mass schedule
About the Dulles Interfaith Chapel
Tucked inside the main terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport, the Interfaith Chapel offers a quiet oasis away from the rush of modern air travel. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all persons are welcome — employees on a quick break, passengers in transit, and visitors seeking a place to pray, read, or simply breathe. Sacred scriptures and spiritual literature are available in English, Spanish, French, Urdu, Amharic, and Polish, reflecting the international nature of the airport's community.
History of the Chaplaincy
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Interfaith Chapels was founded in 1994 by a group of business professionals concerned for the spiritual well-being of the millions of passengers and tens of thousands of employees who work at Washington's airports. Robert Mercure, an engineer with NASA, was the founding chairman and continues on the Board of Directors. From the beginning, the ministry was conceived as a pastoral and theological resource for travelers and aviation workers, and it has grown into a full chaplaincy with ordained clergy, trained lay volunteers, and a trained trauma response team.
Location and Access
The chapel is located airside in the middle of Concourse A, near Gate A31 and across from Gate A32, adjacent to the Virgin Atlantic Airlines clubhouse. Because it sits past the security checkpoint, travelers must clear TSA screening to visit. Donations and correspondence can be sent to the MWAI Chapels mailing address in Washington, D.C.
- Concourse A, near Gate A31 / across from Gate A32
- Must pass through TSA security to access
- Mailing address: MWAI Chapels, PO Box 16365, Washington, DC 20041-6365
Weekly Worship and Prayer Schedule
The chapel hosts a rotating schedule of Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim services throughout the week. All are open to travelers, airport staff, and visitors regardless of denomination.
- Saturday — 4:00 PM, Catholic Mass (English)
- Sunday — 9:30 AM, Christian (Protestant) Worship Service
- Daily — 12:00 PM, Jewish Prayer (non-clergy led)
- Friday — 1:30 PM, Muslim Prayer Service
Clergy and Staff
The chaplaincy is led by a Senior Chaplain and a Director of Ministry, supported by a team of ordained clergy, deacons, and trained lay volunteers serving as Assistant Chaplains across multiple faith traditions.
- Senior Chaplain — Chaplain Eugene Kraybill
- Director of Ministry — Nace Lanier
- Assistant Chaplains include Christina Kraybill, Anne Smith, Dell Thompson, Angela Knight, Brain Beatty, Archbishop Seraphim, Deacon Christopher Moore, Josant Barrientos Jr., Assam Al-Jaber, Iman Elridi, Richard Fuller, Rufus Bhimanapali, and Wajie Gulumaw
- Islamic Service — Kashif Bhatti
- Muslim Volunteer — Ghulam Bhatti
Pastoral Care and Trauma Response
Beyond scheduled worship, the chaplaincy provides on-call pastoral care to passengers and airport personnel. Its team is trained to intercede in personal conflicts and to deploy as a trauma-response presence during catastrophic incidents at the airport — a role the chaplains have carried out during major aviation events affecting the Washington region.
Catholic Ministry at Dulles
Catholic Mass is celebrated in English every Saturday at 4:00 PM, giving travelers an opportunity to fulfill their Sunday obligation before flying out. The chaplains also serve as a bridge to local Catholic parishes and resources throughout the greater Washington, D.C., area for travelers in need of confession, anointing, or parish connection.
Supporting the Ministry
The Interfaith Chapel is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from individuals, religious organizations, and businesses. All gifts to MWAI are tax deductible; checks may be made payable to 'MWAI Chapels' and mailed to the Washington, D.C., PO Box.
Contact
Reaching the chapel is straightforward — both phone and email contacts are published, and the team responds to requests for pastoral support, emergency assistance, and general inquiries.
- Senior Chaplain Eugene Kraybill: (703) 572-1714 — [email protected]
- Director of Ministry Nace Lanier: (703) 417-1750 — [email protected]
- Mailing: Metropolitan Washington Airports Interfaith Chapels, Inc., PO Box 16365, Washington, DC 20041-6365
- Phones: (703) 417-1750 and (571) 482-8578