LOUDONVILLE, NY — Siena College chaplain William Beaudin, OFM, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Linda Richardson led a blessing on Sept. 21 of a wall celebrating with photos and plaques the mission of Siena College.
Numbers of students engaged in service — from Belarus to Pakistan — are included in the photos, as are the original seven friar faculty members from 1937 (shown in photo behind William), according to Janet Gianopoulos, Siena’s director of news services. The blessing took place on the main floor of Siena Hall, the college’s signature building.
Siena anticipates the inauguration of its 10th president, Kevin Mullen, OFM, Oct.1 in the Alumni Recreation Center. It’s “much more about the life of the college than about Kevin Mullen,” said Kevin at a recent conversation of faculty and administrators. Highlights of the ceremony will be available on Siena’s Web site later this week.
Kevin’s guests scheduled for the Oct. 6 News & Views radio program include Secular Franciscan faculty member Rob Breen, who is involved in environmental advocacy, student Erin Frazee’s projects regarding bioethics and end-of-life issues, and highlights of the address from the college’s presidential inauguration by Kenneth Himes, OFM.
The college also looks forward to events celebrating the Feast of St. Francis, according to Gianopoulos. These include the blessing of animals Saturday during Family Weekend, the Transitus the evening of Oct. 3, a festive liturgy and reception Oct. 4 at noon, followed by a fireworks display that evening near Standish Library.