With the Pilgrim MTA through the streets of Washington

Adventures in D.C. - Mission and Visit

Misión en Washington: Mercedes con 9 acohólicos de la calle. El del enfrente y centro sostuvo la MTA peregrina todo el tiempo. Enrique le dio a cada uno una estampita de la MTA. Mission in Washington: Mercedes with 9 street alcoholics. The one sitting in the front center held the Pilgrim MTA the whole time. Enrique gave each one a prayer card of the MTA. Mission in Washington: Mercedes mit neun Obdachlosen. Der vorne hielt die ganze Zeit die Pilgernde Gottesmutter. Enrique gab jedem ein MTA-Bildchen.
Mercedes, Antonio y Francisca a la entrada del “Rincón”. Mercedes, Antonio and Francisca at the entrance to the “Rincón.” Mercedes, Antonio und Francisca am Eingang des “Rincón“
Mercedes, Francisca, Antonio y Enrique en la entrada del “Rincón”. Mercedes, Francisca, Antonio and Enrique at the entrance to the “Rincón.” Mercedes, Francisca, Antonio und Enrique am Eingang des Rincón Fotos: Vivoni © 2007

USA, Mercedes I. Vivoni. My family and I were on vacation visiting our son in the DC Metro area. It was the morning of Wednesday, July 11, 2007. Enrique Soros picked me up at my son’s home and we left for downtown DC. We were going on a mission. A mission Enrique has carried out for many years. A mission I did not know about.

We arrived at 3539 NW 14^th St. and visited DC’s "Rincón." A "rincón" is a small place. In Schoenstatt, it is the small place in our house that we dedicate to the Blessed Mother. One example is the Home Shrine. In DC, the "Rincón" is a small, but comfortable first floor dedicated to the MTA and where the local Schoenstatt family, Rosary Campaign missionaries and friends meet each Thursday at 7:00 PM. This place was offered to the MTA in gratitude to a very special favor granted by the MTA to the owners, Francisca and Antonio. It has a real size altar with the Auxiliary MTA on top.

Together with Francisca and Antonio, we greeted the MTA and consecrated to her. We asked her to accompany us in our mission. We left for the mission to visit local small business that receive the Pilgrim MTA, rotate her among the employees and have a special place to display her. We prayed a short prayer and went on to the next business. Rain poured for almost an hour, but we kept on with our mission. We got ALL wet, but enjoyed serving our Blessed Mother through this apostolate.

An unforgettable encounter

On the way back to the car, we met with 9 street alcoholics. Enrique asked me, "Do you venture"? "Why not,"? I replied. They greeted the Blessed Mother with smiles and we all prayed together. I was so sad to hear over and over, "When we die, we will go to hell". People had told them so: especially the evangelicals, some relatives, friends and the list goes on. "No! You will not go to hell because you are sick. Ask the Blessed Mother, with all your heart, to help you find a way to overcome this sickness. She hears our petitions and intercedes for each of her children," Enrique told them time after time.

We concluded the day with a delicious meal prepared by Enrique and his wife, Erica, at their home.

On the night of Thursday, July 12, 2007, my husband, Bill and I accepted an invitation to share our testimony in Schoenstatt at the "Rincón." We were 20 people from El Salvador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Puerto Rico crowded by the altar. We had some typical food from El Salvador. By the way, it was delicious.

We enjoyed our visit to the Schoenstatt DC Family. We fell in love with the "hormiguitas" (little ants), a symbolic name referring to themselves and adopted that night. Ants work together. They want to work together like little ants for the Blessed Mother all over DC.

Thanks, Enrique for providing us with such unique adventures and we look forward for future ones as we go to visit our son and family in the metro area of DC. Thanks "hormiguitas" for your love and care. Many blessings to all. See you soon!