Office > Haiti Ministry

Purpose

The Haiti Education Support Team (HEST) is a specialized committee of the Haiti Ministry Commission tasked with providing support to parishes in the area of education in partnership with the Catholic Education Office of Hinche in Haiti. HEST manages support for the Diocesan Office of Education (BDE) of Hinche, Haiti including funds raised by the team and the Haiti Ministry Commission that support the annual budget and special projects of the BDE. HEST continues to develop ways to support parish partnership through information sharing of our partner’s schools and teachers.

HEST History and Information 

Haiti Education Support Team Main Goals and Objectives

1. Work with Hinche Catholic Education Office to enhance Catholic education in the Diocese of Hinche.
2. Inform all parishes of school performance scores of their partners’ schools.
3. Assist underserved children in Hinche through the Shalom Fund.
4. Serve as a resource for parishes to build capacity in their partners’ schools and other needed resources for school accreditation

Haiti Education Support Team Members

• Kathy Dowdy | Church of the Holy Family, Virginia Beach
• John Beall | Saint Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, Richmond
• Daniel Burns | Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Glen Allen
• Rhonda Childs | Saint Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, Richmond
• Paul Fuhs | Saint Bridget Catholic Church, Richmond
• Kathy Gross | Church of the Holy Family, Virginia Beach
• Dr. Pamela McKinney | Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Virginia Beach
• Cyndy Unwin | Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke
• Dave Bucheit | Saint Mary, Richmond

Get involved

We invite requests to join our team. Please contact the Office of Social Ministries if you are interested.

HEST Meeting Minutes

FY25

HEST July 2024 Minutes pg 1

HEST July 2024 Minutes pg 2

HEST 2024 August 15th meeting

HEST 2024 September 16 meeting

No HEST Mtg October 2024

HEST 2024 November Minutes coming soon

FY24

HEST 2023-1 June 20th recessed meeting

HEST 2023-15 August

HEST 2023-19 September

BDE (Bureau of Diocese Education – Hinche) Budget for Special Teachers Session 2023

Summary of BDE Activities in 2022-2023 School Year

HEST 2023-1 November 19 special meeting Shalom Fund

HEST 2024 January 16th meeting

HEST 2024 March 19th meeting

HEST 2024 April | May in Lieu of meeting to prepare the ASK Campaign for mailing – No Meeting

HEST 2024 June 19th meeting