Ronald Reagan National Airport

About the Interfaith Chapel

The Interfaith Chapel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport serves travelers, employees, and visitors of all faiths in the south end of Terminal 2. Open 24/7, it offers a quiet space for prayer, meditation, and reflection amid the bustle of one of the nation's busiest airports. The airport page emphasizes that 'all persons are welcome,' and the chaplaincy bridges visitors to local churches, counselors, and community resources throughout the greater Washington, D.C. metro area.

History of the Chaplaincy

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Interfaith Chapels (MWAIC) was founded in 1994 by a group of clergy and business professionals in the D.C. area. Founding chairman Robert Mercure, a NASA engineer, remains on the Board. The Dulles chapel opened in 1998 with Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim services, and the National Airport chapel followed, initially with Catholic and Protestant services.

• Founded: 1994
• Founding chairman: Robert Mercure (NASA engineer)
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit: Metropolitan Washington Airports Interfaith Chapels, Inc.
• Serves Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles International (IAD)

Catholic Presence

Catholic worship is centered on a single weekly Mass on Sundays, supported by Fr. Fidele Malanga, MIC, of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. The chapel belongs to the Diocese of Arlington and serves Catholics traveling through or working at DCA as well as visitors seeking the Eucharist during a trip.

• Sunday Mass: 12:00 PM (noon)
• Catholic chaplain: Fr. Fidele Malanga, MIC
• Diocese of Arlington

Staff & Clergy

The chaplaincy is staffed by ordained clergy and trained lay volunteers. The Senior Chaplain and Director of Ministries at Reagan National is Rev. Nace Lanier, supported by Assistant Chaplains Rev. Anne Smith, Rev. Andrew Phillips, and Rev. James Hayes. Fr. Fidele Malanga provides Catholic services and support. A separate Senior Chaplain, Eugene Kraybill, leads the chaplaincy at Washington Dulles International Airport.

• Senior Chaplain: Rev. Nace Lanier
• Assistant Chaplains: Rev. Anne Smith, Rev. Andrew Phillips, Rev. James Hayes
• Catholic priest: Fr. Fidele Malanga, MIC
• Dulles Senior Chaplain: Eugene Kraybill

Worship & Prayer Services

Regular scheduled worship includes Catholic Mass on Sunday at noon and Protestant Worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM. Non-clergy-led prayer times gather the faithful daily: Jewish prayer at noon (except Sunday) and Muslim prayer at 1:30 PM (with an additional 4:00 PM time noted on the airport's site).

• Protestant Worship – Sunday, 11:00 AM
• Catholic Mass – Sunday, 12:00 PM
• Jewish prayer – Daily, 12:00 noon (except Sunday)
• Muslim prayer – Daily, 1:30 PM
• Muslim prayer – Daily, 4:00 PM

Pastoral Care & Outreach

Beyond scheduled worship, the chaplaincy provides pastoral guidance for those who are hurting, helps resolve personal conflicts, conducts religious services, and deploys a trauma team in cases of catastrophic loss at the airports. The chaplains serve as a bridge to community resources and churches throughout the greater Washington, D.C. area for travelers in need.

• Pastoral guidance and counseling
• Conflict intervention
• Trauma-team response for catastrophic loss
• Referrals to local churches and community services

Visit & Contact

The chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visitors reach it at the south end of Terminal 2, directly behind a Dunkin Donuts, across from Gates B10–B22. The office can be reached by phone, fax, or email, and donations support the chaplaincy's nonprofit ministry.

• Phone: (703) 417-1750
• Fax: (703) 417-8260
• Email: [email protected]
• Mailing: MWAI Chapels, P.O. Box 16365, Washington, DC 20041-6365