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Ministry Teams & Missions
Encounter in community through service
Our Mission Teams
Our teams focus on specifically identified types of needs of our Sister Parishes. Each ministry team includes some members who are expert in the particular area, be it medicine, construction or leading youth. These "professionals" are supported by other "missionaries," on the mission field as translators, support staff, and generalists with strong backs and loving hearts.
Medical Missions
Plans and executes three medical mission trips annually, providing much-needed medical treatment and medicines to members of our Sister Parishes and residents of the bateyes. The medical team welcomes medical professionals of all types, disciplines and specialties as well as non-medical support personnel.
Team Highlights:
Trips: 3 per year
Patients: 1200+ annually
Volunteers: 15-20 per trip
Mission Leaders:
Dr. Don Barnhorst and David Rybak
Dave Rybak
Medical Missions Coordinator
David Rybak, Medical Mission Coordinator for Sister Parish Ministry, plays a crucial role in organizing every aspect of our medical missions. From recruiting and training dedicated volunteers to working closely with our local partners in the Dominican Republic, David ensures that each mission runs smoothly and effectively. He also navigates the complex process of securing
the necessary medical and pharmaceutical clearances required to provide care. His dedication doesn't end when the mission concludes—David continues to serve by coordinating specialist referrals for patients in need of ongoing care. Sister Parish Ministry is deeply grateful for David’s unwavering commitment and service. He is a shining example of faith in action.
Family/School Missions
Each of these missions includes several families – one or more parents with one or more children and/or their teachers, and clergy. These missionaries interact with all generations of families in our Sister Parishes and the bateyes, working together, playing together, and
spending time serving together. Together with counterpart Dominican and Haitian families – young and old - they deliver food to the elderly, paint and build houses or chapels, and even sing and dance. They also work with women, young and old, on
projects to earn money and build community. These missions are open to any Parish or School in the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida.
Team Highlights:
Activities: Construction, Education, Community Building, Infrastructure and visiting/feeding the elderly.
Frequency: Four Trips per year
Team Leads:
Katie Houser, Kathy Bing, MD, Diane Foley
Families: Working on projects in bateyes and Parish Communities. Interacting with Pre-School and K-12 students.
Family and School Missions:
Enriching Lives Through Service
Family and school missions engage participants in a variety of activities designed to broaden and
enrich the overall missionary experience. One key element includes visits with the elderly, which
often involve food deliveries and meaningful opportunities to connect with those in need.
Missionaries frequently have the chance to visit residents at the Hospice home of the Sisters of
Charity (Hogar San José), offering companionship and compassion.
Another important aspect of these missions is the opportunity to interact with preschool through
grade 12 students and their teachers. Through planned service projects and fun, engaging
activities, missionaries contribute to creating a joyful and enriching environment for all involved.
Activities may include painting murals, organizing craft sessions, or playing baseball—each
fostering connection and community.
Family and school missions offer missionaries a unique, firsthand understanding of the profound
impact their presence and service can have—not only on the communities they serve, but on their
own lives as well.
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