Alumni News
Children’s Ministry Director, Part Time, West Concord Union Church: Concord, MA
Children’s Ministry Director: We seek a leader to engage kids’ hearts and minds with stories, questions, arts, and games in collaboration with dynamic staff and committed volunteers. West Concord Union Church is an inclusive, creative Christian community that empowers spiritual renewal and community engagement. We offer a warm welcome to folks of many identities, expressions, and abilities. We currently have 23 children sixth grade and younger. The position is 12 hours/week from September until mid-June, with Sunday mornings required. Starting salary $30/hour depending on experience. Please send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for two references to wcuc.office@gmail.com by April 6th.
Additional Information
We are located in short walking distance of the commuter rail and just off Route 2 for easy access by car. Learn more about our community at: WestConcordUnionChurch.org.
Reverend Steven M. Seminerio (’53)
The following obituary was originally published by Legacy Obituaries and can be found here.
Rev. Steven Michael Seminerio of Concord, MA, and East Haverhill, NH, passed away on February 23, 2026, in Concord, MA, at age 100.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marilyn; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann DeSalvatore (Patrick) and Helen Goodwin (Ronald); sister and brother, Vincenzina and John, who each died as children; and a nephew, Robert DeSalvatore (survived by Linda).
Steven was born on January 31, 1926, in Everett, MA, the son of the late Andrew and Santina (Pennio) Seminerio, both immigrants from Sicily who established a successful tailor shop in their new country.
At Everett High School, he played basketball and was a State shot put qualifier, graduating in 1943. He completed a semester of pre-medical studies at Boston University before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. After boot camp in Sampson, NY, and medical training at Camp Lejeune, NC, he was selected to join the 6th Marine Corps Division as a corpsman (medic), and saw combat duty in Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Guam, and China.
After the war, he re-enrolled at BU, changed his course of studies to pre-ministerial, and met his wife-to-be, Marilyn Langmaid, in the Chapel Choir. They graduated together from the School of Liberal Arts on June 5, 1949. (Steve was honored as one of fifteen BU "Hall of Fame" seniors.) He was already serving as assistant pastor at Glendale Methodist, his home church in Everett.
Six days after graduation, he and Marilyn married on June 11, 1949, and he began his full-time ministry as a summer youth counselor/chaplain at Asbury Grove Christian Camp Meeting in Hamilton, MA. In 1950 he was ordained as a Deacon, and in 1953 he graduated from BU's School of Theology with a Master of Divinity degree.
As a United Methodist minister, Rev. Steve pastored Massachusetts parishes in Somerville, West Medford, Marblehead, Saugus, Melrose, and Wayland, with his special talent for bringing people together. He sang duets with Marilyn and soloed in church cantatas. He served nine years as Secretary of Evangelism for the Lynn District, and as chair of the New England Conference Board of Evangelism. For over 16 years he was a staff member and director at Rolling Ridge Methodist youth center in Andover, MA.
In 1965 the New England Conference awarded Steve the coveted Stowell Scholarship to spend five weeks in the Holy Land and India. His church (St. Stephens in Marblehead) raised funds for Marilyn to join him afterwards for a three-week tour of Europe.
"Retiring" in 1992, he and Marilyn moved to Marilyn's family homestead in East Haverhill, NH, where he began a second chapter of pastoral service. For years, he had been holding summer vesper services in the East Haverhill UM Church, and soon found himself in demand as interim pastor at local churches - North Haverhill UM, Bradford UCC, Thetford Hill UCC, West Newbury UCC, Orford UCC, Moultonborough UM, Wells River UCC, and Newbury UCC. He was also a popular Sunday service guest preacher at area churches, including Corinth UCC, Windsor UCC, and Haverhill UCC. As an active member of Haverhill VFW Post 5245, he often served as Chaplain.
In 2007, Steve and Marilyn began wintering at Newbury Court, a senior community in Concord, MA, where on June 11, 2024, they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with family and friends.
On November 6, 2024, Steve was awarded the Golden Cane Award from the United Methodist Church as the longest-serving pastor in the New England Conference.
He is survived by his beloved four children, Alison Rupert (Richard) of Hughesville PA, Andrew Seminerio (June) of Melrose MA, Steven Seminerio Jr. of Melrose MA, and Susan Strakus (Michael) of Lynn MA; granddaughter Juliana Seminerio Eramo (Mark) and great-granddaughters Serafina and Forza of Andover MA; grandson Matthew Seminerio (Emily) and great-grandsons Montgomery and Maxwell of Medfield MA; grandson Michael Strakus (Nicole) and great-granddaughter Jasmine of Clinton MA; grandson Paul Strakus (Penny) of Beverly MA; nephews Richard DeSalvatore (Karen) of Woburn MA, Andrew Goodwin (Marcy) of Marshfield MA, and Michael Goodwin (Michelle) and grandnieces/nephew Faith, Zachary and Giana of North Easton MA, niece Lydia Caros of St. Paul MN and grandnieces Eleni AyoCaros (James) of St. Paul MN and Kyra AyoCaros (Scott) of Boston; niece Cindy Caros of Grantham NH and grandniece Chelsea George of Merrimack NH.
Steve's family, friends and parishioners will fondly remember his warm inclusive pastoring, his passion for sports (as player or spectator), his Marine Corps pride, his devotion to Marilyn, his life-long morning ritual of marking Bible chapters with red pencil, and most of all - the way he brought the fun to so many gatherings, lighting up the room with his love of people.
Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Steve on Sunday March 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Duvall Chapel, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord. For those who wish to attend the service remotely, please visit the link below five minutes prior to the scheduled service time:
Livestream Link: https://iframe.dacast.com/b/156599/c/541148
In lieu of flowers, the family offers two suggestions for memorial donations:
VA Bedford Healthcare System
CDCE (135)
200 Springs Road
Bedford, Massachusetts 01730
(Write check payable to "Bedford VA" with "In memory of Steven Seminerio" on the memo line.)
Newbury Court
c/o Spiritual Life Department
100 Newbury Court
Concord, MA 01742
(Write check payable to "NEDA" with "Spiritual Life Fund in memory of Steven Seminerio"
A Martyr’s Question becomes a Call to Justice: The Inaugural Fr. Vincent Machozi, AA (‘15) Colloquium
By Abednego Musau (‘28)
“Why are you killing me?”
These were the last words of Father Vincent Machozi, AA (‘15) questioning his killers on March 20, 2016, in Katolu village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Born and raised in Vitungwe-Isale in North Kivu, and a member of the Augustinians of the Assumption, Machozi rose to become a champion of justice. He was a courageous voice in the region that borders Rwanda and Uganda, where armed groups terrorized communities in their struggle to control lucrative local coltan mines, which are integral in the production of cellular and mobile devices.
Through his website, Beni Lubero, Fr. Machozi documented atrocities and exposed human rights abuses in the DRC. In the middle of his doctoral studies at the Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH), he made the difficult decision to leave his studies and return home, unwilling to watch from afar as his community suffered under the violence and exploitation of militant groups. After returning, Machozi was elected president of the Nande community which is a Bantu ethnic group constituting over 60% of the population in North Kivu, DRC. He continued with his call of advocating for justice for his people despite growing threats.
Fr. Machozi’s life, and especially his untimely death, raises a challenging question: What kind of theological education forms leaders who return to danger instead of retreating from it?
That question dominated the inaugural Fr. Vincent Machozi Colloquium at BUSTH held on February 26 -28, 2026. In the opening plenary address, William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor Dana L. Robert referred to Machozi as a “martyr,” which means “witness.” She further stated that, “Machozi’s witness was not confined to the manner of his death. His Christian faith, scholarship, and activism were of one piece. His academic work on peacebuilding in the DRC informed his public advocacy; his documentation of abuses flowed from deep theological conviction. For Machozi, theology refused to remain abstract.”
The colloquium’s theme “Ecologies of Peacemaking” further broadened this vision. One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Ambaye Ogato, the Commissioner of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, emphasized in his plenary address that sustainable peace demands inclusive dialogue that values every person’s contribution, even that of one’s enemies. He persuaded the attendees that, “peacebuilding demands courageous listening and the difficult work of imagining a shared future across deep divisions.”
“The true significance of love, the true significance of peace, is only revealed in the very process, in the very attempt to realize it.”
The third keynote speaker, Father Dr. Emmanuel Katongole, Professor of Theology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, affirmed this conversation by insisting during his address on “social love” and the cultivation of institutions that embody love in public life and make peaceful coexistence possible. “The true significance of love,” he said, “the true significance of peace, is only revealed in the very process, in the very attempt to realize it.”
The themes of the Machozi Colloquium intertwine well with the Boston University School of Theology’s distinctive mission. During the colloquium, dean G. Sujin Pak emphasized “The convergence of social ethics, peacemaking, and ecological justice with attention to global partnerships is a unique strength of BU School of Theology. These particular sets of commitments are not only part of STH’s legacy—which Dana Robert’s lecture so beautifully depicted—they are ongoing core elements of its DNA. A hopeful part of STH’s mission is to convene interdisciplinary conversations for vision, collaboration, and impact.”
The Machozi Colloquium, organized by the BUSTH faculty team of Associate Dean Nicolette Manglos-Weber, Prof. James McCarty, Prof. Filipe Maia, and Prof. Rebecca Copeland, will be held every three years, ensuring that his legacy shapes future generations committed to justice and peace.
Top banner image: Dr. Emmanuel Katongole, Professor of Theology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, gives his plenary address on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Photo by Inyeop Choi ('26).
Executive Director, Full-Time, Hill House: Boston, MA
To apply through our online portal, please click https://apptrkr.com/6958752.
Senior Pastor, Full Time, Keene Valley Congregational Church: Keene Valley, NY
Our church, Keene Valley Congregational Church, UCC is located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains High Peaks in New York State. We are a congregation of contemplatives in action striving to meet the needs of our community and our world. We are a welcoming, committed and engaged congregation of those who attend year round in person or through a live Zoom link and seasonal residents who participate in the summer months. Our church is truly a community church with doors and hearts open to all. We are an Open and Affirming and a Creation Justice Church. We are a church with a strong music ministry, a theologically progressive membership, and a solid financial footing.
We are looking for a full-time senior pastor. Experience is desirable, but enthusiasm, energy, and vision perhaps even more so. The pastor will have the support of four paid staff people; office, maintenance, pianist, choir director and countless cheerful volunteers.
Wage and Benefits: The salary range is $60,000-$77,000 depending on education and experience. Health, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, pension and employer's FICA will be provided. We will also include housing in our parsonage.
Open application date.
Additional Information
Address
Keene Valley Congregational Church
1791 Route 73
Keene Valley, NY 12943
Communications & Outreach Coordinator, Part Time, Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light
Job Description
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light (MassIPL)
Part-Time Remote | Massachusetts-based | 15-20 hours/week | $22-25/hour
About MassIPL
Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light (MassIPL) is a statewide nonprofit that mobilizes communities of faith to respond to the climate crisis. We work with more than 200 congregations across Massachusetts to reduce carbon emissions, support clean energy transitions, advance environmental justice, and equip leaders from rising generations. Rooted in diverse faith traditions, we believe that caring for our climate is both a moral responsibility and a practical necessity. We are a small but growing organization with an expanding portfolio of programs and a communications presence to match.
The Role
MassIPL is seeking a part-time Communications & Outreach Coordinator to support consistent, high-quality communications across our channels and help deepen engagement with congregations and partners across the state.
Working closely with the Executive Director, the Coordinator will manage day-to-day communications execution — newsletters, social media, graphic design, and database management — while contributing ideas and capacity for new outreach efforts. This spring, MassIPL is launching a newly redesigned website, and the Coordinator will play a role in keeping it current and well-maintained. This role is well-suited to a motivated, organized communicator who works well independently and takes ownership of their work.
What You'll Do
Core responsibilities:
• Design and send email newsletters using our templates and brand guidelines
• Create and schedule social media content across platforms
• Maintain our communications calendar and keep us on track
• Design graphics, one-pagers, and print materials in Canva or similar
• Support updates on our newly launched website and help maintain our digital assets
• Manage and update our CRM (Bloomerang) and track engagement metrics
Growth opportunities:
• Help develop new outreach campaigns targeting congregations across the state
• Work with MassIPL staff and volunteers to capture and share impact stories from our programs and partners
• Assist with event promotion, registration, and follow-up
• Contribute creative ideas for video, social series, or other emerging formats
What We're Looking For
Required:
• Strong visual design skills using Canva or similar tools — this is central to the role
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Comfort with email marketing platforms and social media scheduling
• High level of organization and follow-through
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment
• Passion for both faith-rooted community work and environmental action
Preferred:
• Experience with nonprofits, congregations, or advocacy organizations
• Familiarity with CRM systems (Bloomerang or similar)
• Basic website editing experience (Webflow preferred)
• 1-3 years of relevant experience — though the right combination of skills and motivation matters more than years
Compensation & Logistics
• 15–20 hours per week, flexible scheduling
• $22–25/hour depending on experience
• Remote position; candidates must be Massachusetts-based
• Occasional in-person events and meetings throughout the year (travel reimbursed)
• Paid sick time and holidays (prorated for part-time)
How to Apply
Please send the following to hiring@massipl.org:
• A resume
• A brief cover letter explaining your interest in MassIPL's mission
• 2-3 samples of visual communications work (newsletters, social graphics, flyers, or similar)
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; priority deadline March 14, 2026.
Additional Information
Student Pastor, Full-Time, Second Baptist Church: Liberty, MO
Student Pastor (Full-Time)
Second Baptist Church in Liberty seeks a full-time Student Pastor beginning end of Summer 2026 to lead ministry for grades 6–12. Second Baptist is a 175-year-old, multigenerational congregation affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, located near William Jewell College and downtown Liberty.
The Student Pastor will provide vision, teaching, volunteer development, and administrative leadership. Candidates must hold or be pursuing a Master of Divinity (or equivalent accredited theological degree) and have meaningful student ministry experience. We seek a spiritually mature, emotionally healthy leader who partners with families and builds sustainable ministry systems.
Submit resume, references, and a one-page calling statement to Rev. Alena Vaughn-Booth at Second Baptist Church. Application deadline is April 17.
Second Baptist Church
300 E. Kansas Street
Liberty, MO 64068
avaughn@2bcliberty.org
Additional Information
Reverend Elizabeth A. Davis, (’86)
The following obituary was originally published by Legacy Obituaries and can be found here.
Elizabeth A. Davis, age 88, formerly of Peterborough, NH, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on February 7, 2026, at Bridges by Epoch in Andover, MA. She was born on August 31, 1937, in Quincy, MA, to the late Walter and Alice (Cushman) Sirois. In1955, Elizabeth graduated as part of the inaugural class of Our Lady of Monadnock Academy. In 1956, she married her high school sweetheart, Charles Davis.Elizabeth was a woman of deep faith who loved the Lord.
After raising her family in Jaffrey, NH, she returned to college and proudly earned her undergraduate degree from Keene State College, followed by graduate degrees from Boston University and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She first served as a hospital chaplain in North Conway and later answered her call to ministry as a United Methodist pastor. Over several decades, she faithfully served congregations in Conway, Milan, West Milan, Dummer, Gorham, Woodsville, North Haverhill, Peterborough, and Rindge, NH. She also worked diligently with the Salvation Army to meet the needs of the communities she served. Elizabeth had a special gift for connecting with people, making her a beloved presence in every church to which she was appointed.
She took seriously her calling to train up the saints, inspiring several members of her congregations to pursue ministry themselves.Elizabeth appreciated beautiful things and was an avid gardener who lovingly tended her rose bushes. She knew every scenic backroad in the White Mountains and every good ice cream shop within 100 miles of wherever she happened to be. She enjoyed traveling and made numerous trips to Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland the birthplace of her maternal grandmother. On one special journey to Ireland, she brought her elderly mother to meet their relatives. She also enjoyed regular trips to visit family in Plymouth, MA and enjoyed exploring the historical town in which her Mayflower ancestors once lived.
In her later years, following her retirement from the United Methodist Church in 2017, Elizabeth reconnected with her childhood parish, St. Patrick's in Jaffrey, where she found comfort and fond memories in attending services. Elizabeth is survived by her three daughters: Ellen (Jeff) Salmonson of New Ipswich, Susan Davis of Dublin, Jude Dineen of Stoneham, MA; and two sons: Chuck (Barbara) Davis of Goleta, CA, and Tom Davis of Tampa, FL. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, her sister Pauline Coderre, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was predeceased by her parents, Walter and Alice Sirois, and her brother, Harry Sirois.Services will be announced at a later date. Elizabeth will be laid to rest beside her parents and brother at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Jaffrey. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make donations in Elizabeth's memory to New Life Home for Women and Children in Manchester, NH (newlifehome.org), a ministry that was near and dear to her heart.
Dean Pak featured in Scene at BU in BU Today
Dean G. Sujin Pak was part of a book discussion led by President Melissa Gilliam on February 25. Photo by Cydney Scott.
Rev. Dr. David R. LaRoe (’83)
The following obituary was originally published by McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, and can be found here.
Rev. Dr. David R. LaRoe passed away on February 17, 2026, in Charleston, South Carolina, at the age of 78.
A man of deep faith, service, and commitment to community, David’s life was marked by a profound dedication to ministry, military service, and public housing development. Born on August 29, 1947, in Niskayuna, New York, David was the son of Raymond A. and Anita Knop LaRoe. He graduated from Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam, NY in 1965 and went on to earn a B.S. in Marketing Management from Valparaiso University in 1969. That same year, David enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve with the 12th Special Forces Group. Following a period of active duty, he continued his military service with the 19th Special Forces Group in Schenectady, NY. When that unit was decommissioned, he completed his eight years of service with the 11th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He became full flash qualified as a Green Beret and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant before receiving an Honorable Discharge on August 8, 1978. David’s spiritual journey began in the Lutheran tradition but evolved through his extensive lay ministry work—particularly within prison ministry—leading him to pursue ordination in the United Methodist Church.
In 1980 he matriculated at Boston University School of Theology where he earned both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree. In 1983 he was ordained as a Deacon and began serving at Glendale United Methodist Church in Everett, Massachusetts. That same year he was also ordained as an Elder. His passion for urban outreach led him to become Executive Director of the Albany United Methodist Society in New York in 1990—a missionary initiative focused on inner-city communities within the Troy Conference. In 1994 David became Pastor of Albany Street United Methodist Church in Schenectady, NY where he continued his mission-driven work. After taking a sabbatical to complete a Certificate in Conflict Mediation from Cornell University’s School of Labor Relations in 1996, he returned to ministry as part-time Pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Cohoes, NY while also engaging in consulting work with permission from his Bishop.
In 2001 David transitioned into a new phase of service when he joined TCG Development Services as Project Manager in North Charleston, SC. There he oversaw financing and construction management for workforce housing projects that resulted in the creation of 680 residential units throughout North Charleston. In 2010 he joined the North Charleston Housing Authority as Director of Real Estate Development and later served as Acting Executive Director before retiring in 2014.
David was predeceased by his daughter Rebekah A. LaRoe and is survived by several cousins. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him and inspiration to all who continue the work to which he dedicated his life.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Special Olympics of South Carolina.
Arrangements entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, 843-884-3833.