The annual AIM International Council meeting was held on November 30 and December 1,2010 at the Archabbey of St.Ottilien in Germany. Archabbot Jeremias Schroder and his monks offered warm hospitality despite the chill of the daily snowfall.

The 22 participants were welcomed to the meeting with an opening presentation by the Abbot Primate Nokter Wolf,OSB. Fr. Martin Neyt,OSB, president of AIM,shared his observations and concerns about the challenges facing monastic communities today. (see next page for his report) Extensive information on the most recent grant requests received at the AIM International offices in Vanves, France, was presented by Sr. Gisela Happ,OSB, secretary general of AIM. Fr. William Skudlarek,OSB, director of MID (Monastic Interreligious Dialogue) shared that a new website (www.monastic dialogue.org) will be launched in January. The main feature, "Dilatato Corde", will be a multilingual journal devoted to the dialogue of spiritual practice and experiences.

One of the most interesting presentations dealt with the special situations of new monastic foundations in Cuba, Syria, China, and Eastern Europe. Discussion revolved around the need for strong, stable superiors plus a certain minimum number of monastics committed to working to build these new communities.

The Council was deeply moved by the showing of the film "Des hommes and des Dieux", a powerful retelling of the story of the monks who were murdered at Tibhirine.

Abbot Jean-Pierre Longeat, OSB, shared plans that are being made for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of AIM . This event will be celebrated at the Council meeting next November in Liguge, France. A special film is being created about the works of AIM along with a commemorative book.

The parent organization of AIM USA was founded in 1960 by the International Confederation of Benedictine Abbots at their Congress of Abbots meeting.

At its founding, the acronym AIM stood for AID for Implanting Monasticism. Its purpose was to encourage the establishment of monastic communities in developing countries. Monastic communities referred to are those that follow the Rule of Benedict — Benedictine, Cistercian and Trappist.

Alliance for International Monasticism has become the official name for AIM internationally and at national levels in 2000 to better foster a spirit of alliance and mutuality among the 400 monasteries in Asia, Africa and Latin America and those in the western nations.

Visit the AIM International Web Site

Father Martin Neyt, OSB, President of AIM
administers the International office
with the assistance of Sister Gisela Happ, OSB, Secretary General.

The AIM International Council

The five main objectives of AIM are as follows:

1. To foster co-operation and solidarity among monastic communities throughout the world.
2. To support the development of monastic life in different cultures. Mutual reflection on these forms of life will be an aid to uncovering the meaning of monastic life and the manner in which it should be rooted in the cultures of the world
3. To provide a centre for the communication of information with regard to possible monastic foundations. With the collaboration of the Abbot Primate and the Superiors General of the monastic Orders, AIM has up-to-date information concerning aid, solidarity and formation in the monasteries.
4. To heighten awareness of monastic life throughout the world, both within the monasteries themselves, in the Church and in society at large. AIM maintains contact with MID, the dialogue between Christian monasticism and other non-Christian forms of monastic life.
5. To encourage the creation of new structures for human, Christian and monastic formation.