Day one of Astronomy for Catholics in Ministry and Education (ACME) is here! It was so nice to see both old friends and new faces at this year’s conference. Our group is small at 21 participants due to the reality of Covid-19. At the same time, its nice having a smaller group to journey with in the days ahead.
I haven’t had a chance to chat with everyone, but of those I talked with we have a fascinating mix of science teachers, seminarians, clergy, and people who just love the stars. One thing I like about this group is that I can tell they’re not afraid to ask questions. That always makes life easier for us as presenters and facilitators.
Fr. Gabor celebrated the opening Mass, Br. Guy welcomed us, we shared a meal, and then went out to observe the night sky. At first, I wondered if anyone was going to come out since it was blustery and a little chilly by Arizona standards. I was pleased to see we have a hardy group that was willing to bundle up and join us. The Moon was magnificent, Jupiter and its moons were lovely, and Orion loomed over our group. Weather aside, it was a wonderful night of observing!
To summarize day one: A simple day with a lot of joy and energy. As a fun aside, in the spirit of ACME, a roadrunner stopped by my hermitage to say “hi.” Bugs Bunny would be proud.
Tomorrow Chris Graney and I will offer reflections and we will visit the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab. Pray for us that tomorrow will be just as joyful as today and may God bless us with clear skies to wonder at the sky above.
Here are some images from the day. Enjoy!
