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Colleen McDonald Joncas ’05 and Tim Joncas welcomed with daughter Finley Rose Joncas on July 18, 2012.
Leanne Walt ’05 Title: Senior Pastor, First Congregational Church of Braintree, United Church of Christ Hometown: Boxford, Mass. Website: firstchurchbraintree.org I knew I wanted to be a pastor…When I traveled to places like Sri Lanka and Nicaragua—physical poverty and need was so visible and prevalent, but so too was the faith of the people. As I witnessed the deep faith of those who had so little I realized that Americans suffer from a kind of spiritual hunger. We live in a culture and time that can easily starve our souls by way of consumerism and cyberism. We believe that we have little need or room for God in our lives. Traveling abroad called me back home to support and strengthen communities of faith, which I believe have the power to alleviate physical and spiritual hunger and to promote social justice throughout the world.
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If I lived in a different country, it would be…It’s not technically a different country, but St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Best time to be at Bowdoin: I really can’t choose! The summer I spent at Bowdoin was one of the best of my life; evenings spent grilling in the parking lot of Brunswick Apartments and afternoons at Popham Beach. Yet, the winter brought snow falling on the quad; the spring; Ivies Weekend; and the fall, the most exquisite leaves and the excitement of a new year ahead.
The thing I love most about my church: The spirit of the people. Their willingness to let go of what the church has been in the past and allow God to lead us into the future.
Most amazing place you’ve ever visited: When I was studying abroad in Sri Lanka a group of us hiked to the top of Sri Pada, a mountain in the central highlands of the country that is sacred, holy ground to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. It was dark, cold, and crowded on the small peak. Then, the most miraculous thing happened–the sun began to rise. Suddenly, it was no longer crowded but spacious, no longer cold but warm, no longer dark but light. From that vantage point, the veil that separates this world from the next was so very thin.
Inspirations: The ocean. Writing. Resilience. Generosity.
Favorite way to relax: Long walks with my husband, son, and our boxer.
Sean Turley ’05 and Jennifer Renteria ’07 celebrated Christmas together at the Belaggio in Las Vegas on December 26, 2012.
on September 8, 2012, “in a small ceremony at the site of our first date. Also, in July 2012, I joined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of General Counsel, Energy Markets Division, in Washington, D.C.” See photo in Weddings section. Nicholas Lillo “married Meaghan Kindbergh (Stony Brook University ’05) in Westhampton Beach, N.Y., on September 7, 2012.” See photo in Weddings section. Emilie Schlegel “and Jamie Sahara (Northwestern University ’02) were married on August 11, 2012, at the Foundry, Long Island, N.Y.” See photo in Weddings section. Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai “is pleased to announce his wedding to Kathryn A. Ostrofsky ’06. The wedding took place on June 23, 2013, at Concord, Mass.” See photo in Weddings section.
BOWDOIN SUMMER 2013
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