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| Michigan-raised Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno |
TUSCON – Under clear skies just north of Tucson, amid temperatures that felt more like late spring than winter, I had the privilege of joining 24 priests and lay people to participate in the first Faith and Astronomy Workshop, hosted by the Vatican Observatory Foundation.
This brief, four day workshop was a mix of lecture, discussion, hands on science, and field trips to help parish educators and pastors learn how to address the relationship of faith and science with the people they serve.
The event was led by astronomer and president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ.
Since 1993, Brother Guy has worked at the Vatican Observatory as researcher, curator of meteorites, and author of numerous books and articles.
The American Astronomical Society recently awarded Brother Guy the prestigious Carl Sagan Medal for excellence in public communications as a working planetary scientist.
Joining Brother Guy were a number of local scientists and friends of the foundation who presented on subjects ranging from the ancient understanding of the universe to critiquing the "new atheists."
The breadth of subjects combined with daily visits to active and future space missions provided an eye opening look at the current state of astronomy and the importance of the Vatican Observatory’s presence in the science community.
One of the memorable themes of the workshop was given by Vatican Scientist Father Paul Gabor, SJ, during his homily at daily Mass.
Father Gabor explained that the lesson science teaches us is that the world is rational and able to be understood. This intelligibility of the universe is an invitation from the world’s Creator. This invitation shows us that God wants us to understand Him through studying His creation. Therefore, we do not have a God of deception and confusion, but rather a God of love who makes Himself accessible and known through His creation.
