Since the moment I stepped foot on St. Bonaventure University’s campus, I have felt connected to the Franciscan way of life.
Shortly before my first year at SBU, I participated in an overnight retreat at Mt. Irenaeus in Friendship, NY, where I fell in love with the idea of communal living. After a year of engaging with the Franciscan tradition, I made a commitment to live at Mt. Irenaeus for a summer and I found myself more deeply engaged with what I loved so much about the Franciscan way of life.
Through this experience, I felt a greater sense of groundedness in my connection to all living things. I began to care more deeply about my impact on the world around me, both in the natural world and in the way I interact with other people. I found my footing in this and concluded one way I could continue this beyond my time living in community was to begin working as a communications intern for Mt. Irenaeus.
In the past year, I have begun to contemplate where I see myself post-undergrad, and I came across the opportunity to work as the Member Engagement and Communications intern for the Franciscan Federation. I immediately jumped at this opportunity to further open my circle to the Franciscan family. This position, for me, is exciting because I am able to be creative in the ways I create posts that are engaging for all ages. This opportunity allows me to get to know Franciscan spirituality from a different lens.
In addition to my position with the Federation, I am also working as a summer intern for Franciscan Action Network (FAN), which has further enriched my desire to grow deeper in my understanding of the Franciscan way of life through peacemaking. Previous to this summer, I participated in FAN’s Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference in 2023-2025. This experience led me to realize my passion for faith-based advocacy and has helped me to understand where my heart is calling me.
I feel deeply connected to the Franciscan way of life and have felt called to share myself through these positions. In knowing I am made in the image and likeness of God, I am able to remind others of the unique gifts they offer the Franciscan family. My ultimate goal is to promote understanding and deep compassion between people, honoring challenging beliefs, and exploring how each person is a valuable member of the greater body.
I experience a deep sense of gratitude for each Franciscan-hearted person I encounter, and I feel not only welcomed in, but I know I belong everywhere I find myself, unconditionally. Love is not conditional and not transactional, as Br Kevin Kriso always reminds me. Franciscan love is boundless and calls us all to honor one another’s personhood in an effort to foster the best in all people.
I am blessed to call myself Franciscan-hearted and I’m looking forward to getting to know more of the Franciscan family through this internship!
¡Paz y bien!
Alexis Serio
Member Engagement & Communications Intern
