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

To live is to change, and to be a priest is to change addresses often!

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  4 May 2015

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

1e59e5_aa32f2741f2b484887f408f4ec644ae8.jpg_srz_p_194_231_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srzThis post is meant to be a heads up and an invitation.  For the next couple months, my posts will be less frequent.  As of July 1st, I will be the Pastor of St. Joseph’s parish in Menomonie, Wisconsin.  It is a dynamic collection of three ministries – 1,000 families, a preK – 6 grade school (their school mascot is a baby kangaroo – makes me smile every time I think about it), and the Newman Center serving the students of the University of Wisconsin – Stout and Western Technical College.  It is a BIG undertaking and a definite workload increase from my current assignment at Roncalli Newman – University Parish serving the students of the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and Western Technical College (WTC is a blanket name for a network of tech schools in Wisconsin).  As I pull out the boxes to move, if you wouldn’t mind throwing in a prayer or two for me, my current assignment, and my future assignment, I would greatly appreciate it.


10365467_901469253202849_5419251641404141114_oThe Roncalli Newman Parish – La Crosse, Wisconsin.


So, you may be asking why I share all this with you?  In the bizarre world of assignment changes, we priests often find ourselves in the awkward space of letting go of a parish we have come to love while preparing to embrace a new ministerial challenge.  Part of that embrace is to prayerfully ask, “How do my gifts best serve my new assignment?”  One gift I have been blessed to explore with you is my love of astronomy.  This past year, I have been a participate of the Vatican Observatory Foundation’s Faith and Astronomy Workshop, I have star gazed with impoverished youth in Peru, and I was part of a tandem presentation on faith and science with Dr. Curt Czerwinski at UW-La Crosse.  When I take these experiences and think of my new assignment, I see many ways of incorporating my love of astronomy into my future ministry.  That being said, I thought it would make an interesting discussion to invite you to be part of my discernment.  In that spirit…

DISCUSSION: If you had a pastor who loves astronomy and were in a parish with 1,000 families, a grade school, and a University Newman Center, what programs would you encourage him to do for the parish?  What should he do with the grade school kids?  What should he do with the parishioners?  What should he do with the college kids?  If there was ever a post I hoped would get flooded with responses, this is the post.  Go for it!! I’d love to hear your ideas.

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

Justine Siegemund, Google Doodle Scientist

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  28 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

From The Backyard: Seasons Change

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  27 Mar 2023

Conjunction of the Moon and Pollux – March 29-30

By Robert Trembley  |  27 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars – March 28

By Robert Trembley  |  27 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

From The Backyard: Seasons Change

By Fr. James Kurzynski  |  27 Mar 2023

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

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