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January 30, 2024By Carissa Krautscheid
For one week, Vatican astronomers gathered in Tucson with 20 amateur astronomers from across the continent, including “professional scientists, theology teachers, priests, laity, and people who are simply curious about the night sky,” remarked Fr. James Kurzynski, Wisconsin priest and hobby astronomer whose idea inspired the Vatican Observatory’s Astronomy for Catholics in Ministry and Education (ACME) workshop.
The biennial workshop is geared towards Catholic school teachers and parish priests. “The goal is to teach educators to appreciate what astronomy is,” explained Br. Guy Consolmagno, Director of the Vatican Observatory. “We are immersing educators for a few days in the world of professional astronomy, so that they can see what the life is actually like.” Fr. James encouraged participants to “view this week as a means to practice Pope Francis’ proposed spiritual work of mercy of contemplating creation.”
This ACME workshop included a variety of activities including talks by Vatican astronomers, most of whom are Jesuit priests and brothers, and tours of the University of Arizona Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab and the observatory
telescopes atop Mount Lemmon. Discussion topics included Br. Bob Macke’s involvement with the current OSIRIS-REx mission, Br. Guy Consolmagno’s explanation of Galileo’s complex history, and research being conducted by other Vatican astronomers such as Fr. Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya Eluo, Fr. Christopher Corbally, and Fr. David Brown, who all primarily reside in Tucson and research using the VATT telescope atop Mount Graham outside of Safford, AZ. There is no conflict between faith and science
Each day of the workshop concluded with Mass and a night of star gazing. Bishop Edward Weisenburger joined the Vatican Observatory for the welcome Mass. “His brief, but clear message was a simple reaffirmation of what the Church teaches about the supposed conflict between faith and science: There isn’t a conflict,” summarized Fr. James. “Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 159, Bishop Weisenburger simply reaffirmed that any conflict between faith and science is merely apparent: ‘Truth cannot contradict truth.’”
One session featured a panel discussion with the five Jesuits, “talking about the relationship between their faith life and their scientific work at the Vatican Observatory,” said Fr. James. “We heard the vocational journey of each Jesuit and how God called them first to a life of service in a religious community before their scientific work.”
The Jesuit Order is unique for its scientific heritage. “Even St. Ignatius loved going up to the top of the tower to stare at the stars because it filled him with love for his Creator,” said Fr. David. God calls people of all kinds to serve the Catholic Church with their gifts and talents, including science.
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“As a Jesuit, I could be both a priest and a scientist,” said Fr. Chris.
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“Before I became a Jesuit, I had trouble doing my science,” recalled Br. Bob. “However, it was the integration of the whole self that really allowed me to be a scientist.”
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Like all Jesuits, Fr. Jean-Baptiste took a vow of obedience. “My superior asked me to pursue astronomy,” he said. “I am first a priest and second a scientist. There is no conflict at all.”
Hearing from the Jesuits was “a beautifully refreshing human display of how faith and science isn’t a battle to be fought, but a part of the human experience: an experience that is unique among the Jesuit scientists of the Vatican Observatory for sure, but also an experience that can include you and me,” said Fr. James. “Nature makes sense because it was made by a creator who makes sense,” said Fr. David. “Looking at a language of God is a very spiritual experience. The science that we do is an act of Adoration of God. The plaque above the telescope in Rome says, ‘Come and let us adore our Creator.’ Yes, my job is to pray all day. Work is a form of prayer; we are meant to live in the presence of God. Jesuits emphasize finding God in all things.”
Before Br. Guy joined the Jesuits, he served for two years in the Peace Corps, hoping to make a difference in the world. They assigned him to teach astronomy in Kenya. People from every corner of the world are “filled with the same desire and curiosity,” Br. Guy said. “I’ve never met someone who sees the rings of Saturn and doesn’t exclaim, ‘oh wow!’” Br. Guy has found that gazing at the stars triggers the same questions that all humans are trying to answer: What am I looking at? How do I fit in?
Vatican astronomers “nourish this sense of wonder about the universe and God,” said Fr. David. “We contemplate and pray through fundamental human questions. Astronomy has very philosophical and theological implications. We reach a broad spectrum of people because they all wonder about the same things.”
The Jesuits minister in the Diocese of Tucson at two different communities: the Vatican Observatory and Kino Border Initiative, serving migrants at the border. “People are starving for food, but they are also starving for knowledge and curiosity,” said Br. Bob. “We provide some contact with the greatness of God’s universe. We meet spiritual needs by providing connection to the universe.”
Br. Guy reframed this dual mission, “The point of helping the poor is to give them breathing space to marvel at their Creator.”
The stars are a gateway for wonder and awe with a result of, in Br. Guy’s terms, “God is the rockstar that made all of this!”
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