Join us on Saturday, February 24th, for our next Full Moon-th Meetup where we remember the life and times of Fr. William R. Stoeger, S.J. Fr. Stoeger was a staff scientist for the Vatican Observatory Research Group in Tucson, specializing in theoretical cosmology, high energy astrophysics, and interdisciplinary studies relating to science, philosophy and theology.
If you were a friend of Bill’s, feel free to chime in with stories! And if you never had a chance to meet or get to know him, come to find out about one of the most outstanding — and interesting — members of the Vatican Observatory. Bill was a man equally comfortable talking about cosmology with Stephen Hawking (whom he knew at Cambridge back in the 1970s) and giving retreats to sisters (which he did often, and memorably well.)
Our tradition of hosting online meetups with our Sacred Space Astronomy members and the Vatican Observatory staff, scholars and friends during the Full Moon in Tucson (or thereabout) continues on Saturday, February 24th at 12:00 Noon ET (10:00 AM Tucson time). This meetup is a perk for our Sacred Space Astronomy subscribers- you get to chat with each other, and astronomers and scientists from the Vatican Observatory!
We’ll also have the latest astronomy news and an update about the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope*.
Bill Stoeger was born in 1943 in Torrance, California and grew up in Redondo Beach, California. He entered the Society of Jesus in September 1961, and in 1967 completed his bachelor’s degree with honors in philosophy from Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama.
In 1969 he was awarded an M. S. in physics from UCLA. After lecturing briefly in the physics department at the University of San Francisco, he began theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California where he finished an STM and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972. Afterwards he pursued doctoral studies in astrophysics at Cambridge, UK and completed his PhD in 1976.
From 1976-1979 he was a research associate with the theoretical gravitational physics group at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. He joined the staff of the Vatican Observatory in September 1979.
Fr. Stoeger’s research has dealt with various problems connected with the physics of accretion onto black holes, and mathematical and physical issues connected with torsion and bi-metric theories of gravity, as well as the harmonic map structures contained in gravitational theories including general relativity.
In the first decade after the millennium, he had concentrated on observationally oriented projects in theoretical cosmology, attempting to build more adequate bridges between theory and cosmologically relevant astronomical observations. He also continued to pursue some research on the physics of the central engine in active galactic nuclei and quasars.
Besides his research and writing in cosmology and astrophysics, Bill was very active in lecturing and teaching at the University of Arizona, at the University of San Francisco and at Vatican Observatory Summer Schools.
Fr. Stoeger also exercised his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Tucson helping out in parishes. We was a very fine spiritual director and gave retreats around the US. He was much appreciated for his deep spirituality and profound knowledge.
Father William R. Stoeger, SJ died on March 24, 2014, at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California, where we was being treated for an aggressive form of cancer.
Bill Stoeger YouTube Playlist: [Click Here]
Wikipedia Entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_R._Stoeger
When? Saturday, February 24, 2024: Rain or shine
What time? These meetups will happen around lunch time in North America: in particular, 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, which is 10:00 AM Tucson time.
How do you access the Zoom link? Join Sacred Space Astronomy and you’ll get an email with the full link! If you are already a member, log in to the Vatican Observatory site, and you will see the Zoom info at the bottom of this post.
This meeting was created in a non-BAA environment and is not intended for the discussion of healthcare, health education, or health data research.
*The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope consists of the Alice P. Lennon Telescope, and the Thomas J. Bannan Astrophysics Facility.
