Ana Isabel Saborío appointed Assistant Director of the Secretariat of the Laity
The Superior General, Brother Ernesto Sánchez, and the General Council have appointed Ana Isabel Saborío Jenkins (Province of América Central) as assistant director of the Secretariat of the Laity for a period of three years. Ana will begin this assignment as of January 1, 2024, and will replace Manu Gómez Cid (Mediterránea), who will assume the position of director of the secretariat.
As of January, the Secretariat of Laity will be formed by Manu Gómez (director), Mark O’Farrell (assistant director) and Ana Saborío (assistant director). The Secretariat, in its mission of animation of the lay marist vocation, is supported by the extended Secretariat, formed, as of January 2024, by Alida Bodomanitra (Africa – Province of Madagascar), Claudia Rojas (Arco Norte – Province of Norandina), Nathan Ahearne (Oceania – Province of Star of the Sea), Marcos Broc (América Sul, Province of Brasil Sul-Amazônia) and Rita Silva (Europe, Province of Compostela).
Ana Isabel Saborío Jenkins is a laywoman associated to the Marist charism in the Province of Central America.
She was born in Costa Rica, and is the fourth daughter of seven siblings.
Ana is married to Alonso Martén and has a 31 year old son, Sergio Martén.
For most of her life, since she was a student, Ana has lived the Marist experience.
She has 12 years of experience as a teacher in the Marist School of Alajuela, 4 years as Academic Coordinator of Secondary School and 12 years in the mission of the Direction of the Educational Center.
For the last 15 years, she has been part of the Fraternity Virgen del Pilar.
In 2023, Ana has assumed the Provincial Coordination of the Laity of Central America.
During her Marist life in the Marist School of Alajuela, she has participated in the Commissions of Laity and Education of the Marist Province of Central America. She also coordinates the Synchronous Virtual Masters in Leadership and Educational Management of the Province, in agreement with the Marist University of Guadalajara, and is a member of the Extended Secretariat of the Laity of the Institute.
Throughout 28 years, Ana has lived various experiences of service and ministry in different areas: education, catechesis for children, youth and solidarity, both at the local and provincial level, in the region and in the Institute. Her journey on the lay path has made her deepen and corroborate that Marist life “is a way of life” for which one chooses, and “a particular spirituality from which one drinks daily”.