Skip to content
Vatican Observatory
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact

FAW2017 – The Journey Continues

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  16 Jan 2017

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email
Picture of the many observatories atop Kitt Peak.

This week, I will have the privilege of joining scientists from the Vatican Observatory, friends of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, and 24 participants at the third Faith and Astronomy Workshop (FAW). Having greatly enjoyed the previous FAW events, both as a participant and a presenter, I greatly look forward to what this year’s Workshop has in store.

Amid the excitement, there is also a sobering reality I take with me. Recently, the The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) has published a study, commissioned by St. Mary’s Press, on why young people are leaving the Catholic Church. Though the results showed a complex tapestry of reasons why millennials are leaving in large numbers, one of the central findings was that young people see science and Catholicism as incompatible. (Click Here to read Our Sunday Visitors summary of the study.)

I would be quite naive to think that one workshop can change the cultural winds of the relationship between faith and science. Nevertheless, when I think of the experiences I have had listening to priests and lay people who are professional scientists speak about astronomy from their perspective as Christians, visiting active NASA sights, visiting professional Observatories that are on the cutting edge of modern research, and meeting clergy and lay participants from different countries talk about their love of faith and science, I can’t help but wonder: What went wrong with the perception of the relationship between faith and science?

Many of you may be quite eager to jump in at this point, sharing numerous reasons why this relationship got off track like Galileo, the “God of the Gaps” problem stemming from Newton to Intelligent Design advocates, and curriculum trials in the United States over what “science” should be studied in school. Yes, there are many things that have contributed to our current struggles.

At the same time, we need to find a way, as people of faith, to reset the narrative, rid the discussion of its inflammatory tendency, dispense with the rhetoric and embrace the truth: The Catholic Church supports real science.

FAW brings people of faith into the world of professional science, inviting them to discover their own bridges between faith and science. The hope is that these bridges can then be used to help their students and parishioners better understand the relationship between faith and science. In light of the CARA study, this is a relationship that we desperately need to communicate to the People of God.

Please keep us in prayer this week that God may reveal those bridges to all the participants and presenters at FAW2017. And may we embrace and promote the true relationship between faith and science as a dialogue in the pursuit of truth.

Below are images from the past two FAW events. Also, click HERE to read a very nice article written by Dennis Sadowski about his visit to FAW last year. Enjoy!

Beautiful view from atop Kitt Peak!
Br. Guy talking about meteorites.
A shot at Kitt Peak, trying to get a perspective of how big these telescopes are!
More telescopes atop Kitt Peak.
Beautiful meteorite sample.
FAW2016 at Kitt Peak.
Spin casting “kiln” at U of Arizona mirror lab.
Chapel at the Redemptorist Renewal Center.
More telescopes atop Kitt Peak.
More telescopes atop Kitt Peak.
More from Kitt Peak.
Fr. Christopher Corbally talking to us about telescopes.
More and more meteorites!
Dr. Larry Lebofsky talking meteorites.
Another beautiful meteorite sample.
Glass chunks used to make new mirrors at U of Arizona mirror lab.
Chapel at the Redemptorist Renewal Center.
Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

Sacred Space Astronomy

The Vatican Observatory’s official digital community and online magazine.

Become a Member

Recent Posts

Ask an AI about the History of Astronomy

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  25 Mar 2023

Skyward by David Levy – March 2023

By David Levy  |  24 Mar 2023

Conjunction of the Moon and the Pleiades – March 25

By Robert Trembley  |  23 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

The Northern Mountains

By Richard Hill  |  22 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Archives

      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • August
      • June
      • March
      • January
      • November
      • October
      • December
      • November
      • April
      • May
      • January
      • December
      • September
      • May
      • March
      • December
      • November
      • February

More Posts by
Fr. James Kurzynski

Hubble, Hubble Is Our Space Telescope In Trouble? A Conversation With Dr. Brenda Frye About Space Telescopes.

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  13 Mar 2023

From The Backyard: What Does It Mean To Build An Image – When Astrophotography Meets Faith.

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  6 Mar 2023

Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe? The Difference Between Being And Doing.

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  27 Feb 2023

From the Backyard: My Smart Telescope Has Arrived!!!

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  20 Feb 2023

Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe? A Conversation With Dr. Gan About AI and Faith

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  13 Feb 2023

From the Backyard: Tracking Down Comet c/2022 e3 (ztf)

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  30 Jan 2023

View More

Newsletter

Upcoming astronomical events, scientific breakthroughs, philosophical reflections… just a few reasons to subscribe to our newsletter!

Vatican Observatory
  • About
  • Telescopes
  • Latest
  • Podcast
  • Education
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
Privacy Policy  |   Cookie Policy  |   Disclosure Statement

Podcast:

  • Apple Podcasts Listen onApple Podcasts
  • Spotify Listen onSpotify
  • Google Podcasts Listen onGoogle Podcasts
  • Stitcher Listen onStitcher
  • Amazon Alexa Listen onAmazon Alexa
  • TuneIn Listen onTuneIn
Made by Longbeard