If you see a Franciscan friar skateboarding around campus, stop him mid-ollie and say, “Welcome to Siena!”
Br. Roberto “Tito” Serrano joined the Siena community in July after finishing his master’s degree in divinity at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. As part of the College’s Mission team he’ll be wearing many hats: sacramental ministry and interfaith outreach with the Chaplain’s Office; academic advising in Athletics; and assisting with programming and mentoring at the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center.
“It's great to have Br. Tito as a part of our fraternity on campus,” said Fr. Mark Reamer, O.F.M., D. Min., vice president for mission and guardian of the friary. “I knew he was going to fit in well when I saw him skateboarding across the campus one morning on the way to a Mission team meeting under the St. Francis tent. I’m delighted that he will be ministering with us to help animate Siena’s Franciscan tradition and Catholic identity.”
Br. Tito, who had to quarantine for 14 days upon his arrival at the Siena friary, is used to moving around; his dad was a U.S. Air Force sergeant. He was born in Florida, then the family moved to Germany, then Arizona, where he was active in high school ministry in his family’s Phoenix parish.
“I’m excited to be working with college students,” he said. “They’re approaching adulthood and exploring different options and different ways of seeing things.”
He said that when students are growing up, receiving their first sacraments, they are generally excited about their faith. When they start college, their perspective can shift.
“It’s the first time they take responsibility for their own faith journey,” he explained. “They have questions, and they start seeing things in a different way.”
He said he’s also looking forward to helping students navigate the current political climate, with a contentious presidential election coming up in November.
Br. Tito has been getting acclimated to life at Siena by meeting with administrators and faculty in various departments: “There’s been a lot of getting to know people and learning how I can be most useful.
“There is very strong sense of community here, which I noticed right away.”
Br. Tito loves to cook – he’s of Puerto Rican heritage, so he when he’s “feeling nostalgic” he’ll put together his favorite comfort food: arroz con salchicha (rice with sausage). He’s also a fan of prepping southern food, especially barbecue.