For decades, the North American Secretariat of the Association for International Monasticism has been run by Benedictine Sisters of Erie. This organization connects more than 450 monasteries of Benedictines and Cistercians around the world, helping to meet their educational, financial, and spiritual needs, and raising awareness of monastics and the important roles they play in their local communities. For nearly a decade, Sister Ann Hoffman served as the Executive Director of AIM-USA, forming real friendships with brothers and sisters in places like Togo, France, Ukraine, and Uganda. Sister Jacqueline Sanchez-Small became Director this August, and Sisters Dianne Sabol and Christine Kosin are remaining in their roles with AIM-USA, where each has ministered for several years.
“I am very excited to become involved with AIM,” Sister Jacqueline said. “In just these first few weeks, my eyes have been opened to the immensity of the Benedictine world. The dedication, perseverance, and creativity of monastics, especially in the Global South, is incredibly inspiring. For me, it is really humbling to be able to play even a small part in things like funding young sisters’ education, providing mosquito nets in Benedictine-run orphanages where children are at risk of malaria, and helping monks farm chickens so that their eggs can be sold cheaply to neighbors with HIV who are in need of easy protein sources. As Director of AIM-USA, I look forward to building relationships with—and between—monasteries in this country and around the world, and in doing everything I can to help raise awareness of what monastics are doing today to live the Gospel and the Rule of Benedict.”
Sister Ann Hoffman was particularly gifted at building these relationships, and the news of her retirement prompted tributes from friends of many years whom she had assisted with many projects that improved their safety and their ability to aid their larger communities. Her kindness and generosity were the theme of many of these tributes. At the annual meeting of the Board of AIM-USA, which was hosted at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie this past August, the Board thanked her for her many years of hard work and leadership and wished her happiness in her next chapter.
The Board members elected Bishop Elias Lorenzo, OSB, of Saint Mary’s Abbey, Morristown, NJ, as the President of the Board. He succeeds Sister Susan Quaintance, OSB, of Saint Scholastica Monastery, Chicago, IL.
AIM-USA came into existence in 1973 and moved to Erie in 1990. Sister Jacqueline sees opportunities for the organization to find new ways to create a sense of mutuality and reciprocity between monasteries with different levels of resources; advocate for the needs of the poor, especially women and children; and support sustainability and preparation for adaptation for monasteries in areas that are particularly affected by climate collapse. “The Rule asks monastics to support each other in our weaknesses and to show one another the pure love of siblings,” Sister Jacqueline reflected. “AIM is a powerful channel through which that support and love can flow."
