Friar Mario Luevano Serrano, OFM Conv., has been with the Franciscan Friar Conventuals, for over two decades and is originally from a pueblito in Nuevo México, Dexter, where the friars once ministered. Mario first experience of God was through his familia. He is the 2nd of 5, 3 brothers and his youngest sibling being his sister. Mario’s sense of call was planted in his heart as a 3rd Grader, when he experienced education in a bilingual setting and received his First Communion. Since then many encuentros and ministerial experiences have shaped and formed Mario.

Mario is part of the first generation of his Mexican-American family to pursue higher education. He is the first to have a graduate degree. As a Franciscan priest, he is currently a University Minister in El Paso, Texas and a Vocation Director for the friars.

Prior to being moved to El Paso, Friar Mario was in Terre Haute, Indiana as University Minister through St. Joseph University Parish for Indiana State University, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, and St. Mary of the Woods College

A few years back, he attended OLLU for his first two years of undergraduate studies in bilingual education before moving to Washington, DC to complete his BA at Catholic University of America. Mario has a Masters of Divinity degree from Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX.

Friar Mario was Director of University Ministry and adjunct faculty at Our Lady of the Lake University prior to being asked by the Franciscans to initiate and develop the University Ministry outreach in Terre Haute. Mario brings a wealth of ministerial experience. Mario has done field experience working with RCIA (Sacramental Preparation), the ACTS Retreats, ACTS HOPE retreats, World Youth Day, and ministry to and with children with special need and the terminally ill (hospice and AIDS Foundation), and prison ministry. Mario has been privileged to have mission experiences in Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Zambia and Kenya.

Mario believes in service, not only giving voice to the voiceless, but also building structures of empowerment and a process where all people can reclaim their voice. “We are all called to dig deep to see divinity in all people and experiences,” Mario will respond when getting involved in local faith convening groups. Mario is quite attuned to how God works within and through people to bring about transformation in the world.