Austin, TX. St. Paul Street Evangelization teamed up with the vocations office in the Diocese of Austin, TX to train all 56 of their men in formation for the permanent deaconate along with their wives. The training was offered in English and in Spanish by our program director, Adam Janke, and senior missionary, Mary Ann Weisinger.

After 6 hours of preparation in the New Evangelization, the Art of Christian Listening, Christian Witness, Sharing Your Testimony, Evangelical Apologetics, and Praying with Others, they took to 6th Street in Austin, Texas, knowing for being the “Bourbon Street” of Austin.

The men and their wives encountered hundreds of people, many of them broken and hungry for the Gospel. One of the evangelists, a former Texas Ranger, broke up a fight that was brewing between a security guard and pedestrian. Thanks to his previous training, he then noticed another man nearby who had clearly overdosed on a dangerous street drug and called an ambulance, likely saving his life.

When they weren’t breaking up fights the men were ministering by giving out rosaries and miraculous medals, talking about the Catholic faith, inviting people back to Mass, praying with others, and connecting those in need with local Catholic charities. The response was remarkable. Our evangelists were thanked several times for their presence and many people made a decision for God, either to return to the practice of their faith or to learn more about Jesus. After they were done one of the evangelists noted how much more readily the poor wanted to talk to them and were excited to see them compared to those who appeared to be wealthy. It reminded them of Jesus’ words about the rich man entering the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 19.

If you live in Austin and are interested in joining these evangelists on the streets, please contact St. Paul Street Evangelization or the Diocese of Austin. Now that they have been trained they plan on evangelizing on a regular basis.

And please pray for these men and their wives as they prepare for ordination! And join us!