Newsletter Fall 2011 - Vatican Observatory

Fall 2011
vatican observatory
NEWSLETTER
embracing, encouraging and promoting scientific study
A Heartfelt Goodbye to Fr. Coyne and a Warm Welcome to Fr. DiUlio
On January 1, 2012 Father Albert J. DiUlio, S.J., will become the next President of the Vatican
Observatory Foundation. Father George V. Coyne, S.J., will be leaving the Vatican Observatory
after 45 years, including 25 as President of the Foundation.
Hailing from the Wisconsin Province of Jesuits, the President-Elect comes with impressive credentials
that will serve the foundation well! Fr. DiUlio entered the Society of Jesus in 1964 and was
ordained in 1974. He holds a Masters in Finance and a Ph.D. in Education and Policy Analysis,
both from Stanford University. He served as President of Marquette University in Milwaukee and
Xavier University in Cincinnati. While serving on numerous boards and receiving many honors,
Fr. DiUlio also led the development of the East African Catholic University of Ethiopia. His experience
includes these positions and others in the Midwest, several in California and most recently
as the Secretary for Finance and Higher Education at the USA Jesuit Conference in Washington,
D.C.
Whether you call him “Father Coyne”, “George”, “Padre Giorgio” or “Capo”, for most of you reading this newsletter George Coyne, S.J., needs no introduction,
but he does deserve a few words. From Baltimore, Maryland he entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 18. He then obtained a bachelor's degree in
mathematics and his licentiate in philosophy at Fordham University in 1958. He followed this by earning his licentiate in sacred theology at Woodstock College
and doctorate in astronomy from Georgetown University.
In 1965 he was ordained, and began what would become a long-lasting and important collaboration with the University of Arizona. Fr. Coyne joined the Vatican
Observatory as an astronomer in 1969 and was appointed Director by Pope John Paul I in 1978. As Director he was a driving force in several new educational
and research initiatives, including the Vatican Observatory Summer Schools and the Vatican Observatory Research Group in Tucson, Arizona. He retired as
Director in August 2006 but remained President of the Foundation. Fr. Coyne has embodied the scientific and educational mission of the Vatican Observatory
Foundation since its inception in 1986, working with colleagues and benefactors to build the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and ensure the Church’s
presence in scientific research of the universe.
After almost five decades at “La Specola” in Castel Gandolfo and in Tucson, Padre Giorgio is moving to a much colder climate at LeMoyne College in Syracuse,
New York. Surely his work teaching astronomy and developing a lecture series regarding the science and religion dialogue will help keep him warm! Father
Coyne, we wish you well. You will be missed.
We also wish Father DiUlio a very warm welcome to Tucson (no pun intended) and a rewarding and enjoyable future with the Vatican Observatory Foundation!
Should you wish to offer your own words of farewell to Fr. Coyne and welcome to Fr. DiUlio, please send an email or note to the attention of Katie Steinke,
in preparation for the official transition at the Annual Meeting in February 2012. katie@vaticanobservatory.org; 2017 E. Lee Street, Tucson, AZ 85719
Founded in 1891, the Vatican Observatory demonstrates the Church’s desire to embrace, encourage and promote scientific study,
on the basis of her conviction that ‘faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of
truth’ (Fides et Ratio, Proemium). For more information, email (info@vaticanobservatory.org or) or call (+1 (520) 795-1694).
Father José Funes, S.J.
Director, Vatican Observatory
Father George Coyne, S.J.
President, Vatican Observatory Foundation

vatican observatory
Benefactors Susan and Steve Reischl from California
join guides (center) Fr. Paul Mueller, S.J., and Bro. Guy
Consolmagno, S.J.
VATICAN
Order Your 2012 Calendar Today!
Strikingly beautiful images permeate the 2012 edition of
the Official Calendar of the Vatican Observatory! “Life of
a Star” is this year’s theme, with calendar images capturing
stars in different stages. As Bro. Guy Consolmagno,
S.J. writes, “Clouds of gas and dust, like the Eagle Nebula,
are where stars are formed. Clusters of young stars, like the
Pleiades, are still draped with the last wisps of those clouds.”
Calendars are $25 each and include an annual membership
in the Vatican Observatory Guild. For orders of four
or more, a discounted rate of $20 per calendar is available.
Proceeds support the ongoing work of the Observatory.
Purchase online at www.vofoundation.org or mail a check
with your order today, payable to Vatican Observatory
Foundation. Please indicate “calendar” in the memo line.
VOFFICIAL CALENDAR OF THE
OBSERVATORY
Welcoming Visitors
Brother Guy Consolmagno,
S.J., and Fr. Paul Mueller,
S.J. took time out of their
busy schedules to show visiting
benefactors around the
Vatican Observatory headquarters
in Castel Gandolfo
outside Rome.
June: Anthony Ayiomamitis, ISS Transit of the Sun - Greece.
Here we see a transit of the International Space Station across the face of the Sun.
JUNE GIUGNO JUNIO JUIN JUNI
May
July
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
8 9
Feast of St. Boniface,
Patron of Germany.
Fr. Francesco Denza, first
Hale Observatory on Mt.
Transit of Venus across
director of the Vatican
Palomar, CA opens 1948.
the Sun
Observatory, born 1834
Sally Ride, first American
woman in space aboard
Summer solstice
Father’s Day
Cha lenger, 1983
(23:09 UT)
Feast of St. John the Baptist,
traditional start of
Fr. Angelo Secchi SJ,
the monsoons in Southern
Father of Astrophysics,
Arizona
born 1818
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2
0
1
2
Valentina Tereshkova, first
woman in space aboard
Russia’s Vosok 6, 1962
Largest recorded meteor
strikes Siberia, 1908
2012
Fall 2011 2

California Province Installs 21st Leader
On July 31, the Feast of St. Ignatius, Fr. Michael Weiler, S.J.,
began his tenure as Provincial of the California Province of
the Society of Jesus. Jesuits, friends, and colleagues gathered
on a beautiful Sunday morning for Mass and celebration in the
courtyard of the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.
The Jesuits of the Vatican Observatory come from many different
provinces and, strictly speaking, belong to a community
of the Roman Inter-provincial Delegation. However, the house
in Tucson falls within the confines of the California Province
and welcomes interaction with the province whenever possible.
Reaching for the Heavens
OBSERVATORY NEWS
cOnsOLmagnO: Tur
Written for beginners, this superb book is a complete
guide to the night sky. Over 500 beautiful illustrations
and friendly large-format diagrams show objects
exactly as they appear in a telescope, allowing
stargazers of all ages and backgrounds to find a host
of celestial objects for themselves.
• Over 100 000 copies sold
•
Special
Thanks
Now with double the number of night sky
objects to observe
• Designed for Dobsonian telescopes, as well
•
• Spiral bound making it even easier to use outdoors
• Includes an accompanying website with reverse
as for smaller reflectors and refractors
Covers both Northern and Southern hemispheres
telescope views, visual links to the book, and much
more (www.cambridge.org/turnleft)
Guy Consolmagno is a Jesuit Brother at the Specola
Vaticana (Vatican Observatory) dividing his time
between Tucson, Arizona and Castel Gandolfo,
Italy. He studies the origin and evolution of moons
and asteroids in our solar system, and uses a 3.5”
catadioptric and an 8” Dobsonian.
Dan M. Davis is a Professor of Geophysics in the
Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University,
New York. He researches the formation of mountain
belts on Earth. His observations for this book were
made with a 2.4” refractor and with 8” and 10”
Dobsonians.
“This is quite possibly the most inviting guidebook
ever written to help people with binoculars and small
telescopes find, view, understand, and, most of all,
enjoy everything in the night sky from the Moon and
planets to distant star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.
And if you think it’s only for beginners, think again –
every telescope owner should have a copy.”
DENNIS DI CICCO, Senior Editor, Sky & Telescope
“Turn Left at Orion is an essential guide for both
beginners and more experienced amateur
astronomers who will find much inside to reinvigorate
their passion for the stars. The diagrams are simple,
clear and functional, and the text eloquently captures
the excitement of observing. Stargazing has never
been made so easy and if you buy just one book on
observational astronomy, make sure it’s this one.”
KEITH COOPER, Editor, Astronomy Now
We extend our gratitude
to David A. Harvey—
a professional photographer
based in Tucson,
Arizona—for donating
his time and talent to take
photos at the Vatican Observatory
Foundation’s annual
meeting, published in
the last newsletter.
“Since it first appeared in 1989, Turn Left at Orion has
been an indispensable guidebook for the amateur
astronomer possessing nothing more than a small
backyard telescope. In this Fourth Edition, Guy
Consolmagno and Dan Davis have revised, updated,
and expanded its scope. This is not only an essential
handbook for the novice, it’s a useful reference for the
seasoned backyard astronomer. Simply put, whatever
your level of experience, you must have this book!”
GLENN CHAPLE, Contributing Editor, Astronomy
Mr. Harvey is also an engineer
with the University
of Arizona Steward Observatory
and, as such, programs
the control system
for the VATT.
Consolmagno and Davis Turn LefT aT OriOn Fourth Edition
Bro. Guy Consolmagno Publishes Updated "Turn Left at Orion" Book!
Turn
LefT aT
OriOn
Hundreds Of nigHT sky ObjecTs
TO see in a HOme TeLescOpe
– and HOw TO find THem
Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis
"It’s funny how the people who think there’s a contradiction between
science and religion generally really don’t know what science
is or they don’t know what religion is. Or both. Now within the
universe there are laws; there are effects, energy and matter and
we can study how energy and matter interact. But there are truths,
about life; about the universe that science will never approach:
the truths of love, the truths of beauty. We can describe but we
can never explain why beauty exists or why love exists, and yet
life without love and beauty is clearly incomplete. So I think you
need this wide range of understanding: this wide range of saying,
‘My religion tells me that God made the universe, but my science
can tell me how it is done.’"
—Bro. Guy Consolmagno, S.J. via desertmanian
To read media coverage or watch video clips featuring Vatican Observatory astronomers,
visit www.vofoundation.org. Bro. Guy Consolmagno’s book Turn Left at Orion has been
revised, updated and expanded for its new publication, and is receiving much praise! To purchase
a copy of what "Sky and Telescope" calls ‘quite possibly the most inviting guidebook
ever written to help people with binoculars and small telescopes find, view, understand, and,
most of all, enjoy everything in the night sky’, visit www.vofoundation.org.
3 Fall 2011

vatican observatory
A Particle Man Finds Peace
by Fr. Paul Gabor, S.J.
When I arrived in Tucson on January 5, 2011, I was 41 years old—and about to
start the first long-term job in my life. I felt that it was high time: 33 years of
attending school was finally over. This was all the more true because I came to
Tucson not only as a priest with a Ph.D. in astrophysics, but also as a full-fledged
Jesuit having pronounced my solemn vows in Rome into the hands of Fr. General
Adolfo Nicolás on December 8, 2010. I finally had all the paperwork to prove I
was an "adult," no longer a trainee.
When I took a few quiet days to prepare for my vows, I realized that I did not
need to make any decisions about my vocation to the Society of Jesus. I have been
quite secure in my vocation since I joined in 1995. You see, I was born in 1969 in
Košice, Czechoslovakia, where I received a good secondary education. By the time
I was 17, I knew I should become a priest but decided to give it more time. Since
this was in 1987, I used the abnormal situation of the Church in Czechoslovakia as an excuse. So I went to study particle
physics instead.
My time at Charles University Prague was a wonderful experience not only because the Communist regime collapsed during
my second year but also because I was truly blessed with marvelous teachers and supervisors. They sent me to CERN,
the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, Switzerland, and then to Grenoble, France. I participated in the
development of the ATLAS detector for the Large Hadron Collider.
Throughout my seven years of particle physics, I felt growing unease. By 1995 it was so bad that everywhere I turned, I
perceived signs urging me to stop procrastinating and join the Jesuits. I felt "haunted" by God. At the same time, I just
knew religious life would be perfectly awful! When the haunting became worse than even my nightmarish visions of
religious life, I gave up and joined. The haunting disappeared the moment I entered the novitiate, and I felt at peace. Instead
of the deep unease, my heart was at peace. All the unpleasantness was like waves on the surface that cannot perturb the calm
of the deeper layers. On joining the Jesuits, I knew I found my place.
"I have found that
there is a genuine
need among
Christians, and others,
with extensive training
in science to integrate
their life of prayer with
their scientific mind."
—Fr. Paul Gabor, S.J.
My doctorate in astrophysics is in instrumentation. The Vatican Observatory
Research Group in Tucson offers many exciting opportunities to develop astronomical
instruments, including nulling interferometers: one is planned for the LBT on Mt.
Graham. I am also looking forward to teaching a course in the field of history and
philosophy of astronomy.
I have found that there is a genuine need among Christians, and others, with extensive
training in science to integrate their life of prayer with their scientific mind. In fact, I
was quite surprised by how many active scientists took time off their busy schedules at
short notice in order to participate in a three-day program I gave just outside of Prague
in November, aiming to get in touch with the joy—and wisdom perhaps—that science
brings them. It took me many years of training to overcome various difficulties in this
regard, and I feel I should accompany others who may be struggling along similar paths.
Fall 2011 4

Reaching for the Heavens
Meteors, Weather and….Patience
by Fr. Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya, S.J.
I would describe the last five years of my life in one word: school. It was indeed a school of patience, hope and discovery. My
project was on meteors. I had to observe them myself, in an effort to model their physical behaviour, particularly their bulk
density, to infer the structure and composition of their parent bodies. Besides making sure that the instruments performed
efficiently to guarantee good data, I had to count on good weather. Unfortunately, London, Ontario, where the University
of Western Ontario is located, deserves very well its name because it is always as cloudy as London in England! When it
is not raining, it is snowing. This weather situation forced me to learn patience. When going out for observing, I spent all
night waiting for the sky to clear up—and it did not happen. I had to say to myself: “Tomorrow, the weather will improve. I
have to keep hope.” One year, two years, three years passed—and not a single meteor recorded from London, Ontario. So I
organized a campaign in 2006 in Tucson, Arizona, where I was able, in ten nights, to gather my first meteors.
Retaining hope that I would indeed get data in London, Ontario, I learned to avoid becoming discouraged. Finally, it paid
off. The last two summers I collected as much data as one could gather in more than five years, thanks to the automated
system of gathering meteors we (Western Ontario meteor group) were able to put in place. Everytime the weather was
good and the moon was at the right position, the roof would open, and the automated observation would start. This system
allowed me to reach the number of meteors that was statistically significant for my project.
Among a significant number of results I achieved in my work, the most important was the evidence of early radial
transportation of material in the solar system. Divided roughly in two regions (a hot region with formation of rocky material
and an icy region with formation of icy grains), the early solar system experienced chaos. Consequently, rocky materials
transported into the cold region constituted building blocks of icy bodies like comets. This theory, which had been modeled
for years, was first proved by the analysis and results of the returned samples of the Stardust mission in 2006. My work gave
stronger evidence of the reality of this mixing of materials while the solar system was still at the stage of protosun.
Beside this scientific discovery, I experienced the influence of human character on the way science is conducted. Sometimes,
the human character is a help, but sometimes it pulls one back. What kept me going during all these years was not really
my determination to accomplish the mission given to me, but knowing I was surrounded by strong support from the Vatican
Observatory, from the Jesuit community, from my family and friends. I learned to build the kind of character that
would not take me away from this support, and I learned that with patience and hope, discovery is possible.
Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya, S.J., of the Jesuit Province of Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) was assigned to the staff of the
Observatory in 2003. In 2000, he completed his Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies, a requirement to begin doctoral studies in France, in
astronomy at the Paris Observatory with a thesis on asteroid satellites. In 2010 he completed a doctorate in astronomy at the University
of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. A link to his doctoral thesis, “Bulk Density of Small Meteoroids,” can be found on the
foundation website.
5 Fall 2011

vatican observatory
Our Padre on Horseback
Eusebio Kino, S.J.: 1645 - 1711
by Katie Steinke
Padre Eusebio Kino, originally Chini, was born in 1645 in Austrian Italy. He was
a Jesuit missionary who had hoped to be assigned to China but instead found
himself in the Arizona and Mexican desert. A builder, agriculturist, cartographer,
and peacemaker Father Kino founded 24 missions including beautiful Mission San
Xavier del Bac outside of Tucson, introduced horses and cattle to Arizona, and
proved that Baja California was not an island. The year 2011 commemorates the
300th anniversary of Fr. Kino’s death. Among other events, liturgical ceremonies
at the San Xavier del Bac and Tumacacori Missions were organized by the Kino Heritage Society. Coming to Tucson all
the way from Trento, Italy, his hometown, for these ceremonies were a group of official dignitaries, the Archbishop and
several members of the Chini/Kino family. A concert by the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra was held at the
Tucson Cathedral where a Jesuit “descendent” of Padre Kino, Fr. Chris Corbally, Vice Director of the Vatican Observatory
Research Group and Vice President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation participated as choral president. One of the
more interesting honors bestowed upon Padre Kino was his designation as Grand Marshall of the Tucson St. Patrick’s Day
Parade. In 1965, Padre Kino was honored by the State of Arizona as its heroic representative to the American people and its
preeminent pioneer by the dedication of his statue in the U.S. Capitol Building. A few years ago his petition for sainthood
was accepted and is under consideration by the Holy See. Padre Kino believed that evangelization begins with respect for
the Native People. He had great faith; he was intelligent, charismatic and courageous and worked to better the lives of his
fellow human beings. For us, it is fitting that Eusebio Kino was also an astronomer!
Padre Kino, the Astronomer
by Fr. Chris Corbally, S.J.
Every year as Christmas approaches in Tucson watchers of the statue of
Padre Kino on Kino Boulevard will be looking for the red earmuffs. These
have been appearing annually on the horse’s ears as a kindly seasonal
gesture against the desert night’s cold. Further, along the left side of the
horse, resting on Kino’s saddlebag, you will notice a round instrument
with what looks like a cross spanning its diameter. This is an astrolabe,
or an earlier version of a sextant, and it was used for measuring the positions
of celestial objects. Kino’s astrolabe is at the ready. On his travels
he would use it to sight the Sun at noon, determining its height above
the horizon. With the help of correction tables for each day of the year,
he would then calculate his geographical latitude.
Kino knew his astronomy well, and he put it to good use in making the
best map of this area, “Passo por Tierra a la California.” Drawn in 1707,
it served even for a couple of centuries. On it were placed the missions
and, most significantly, it showed that California, and so Baja California,
was not an island but reachable across the Colorado River. Perhaps Kino
had used that very astrolabe to observe a Christmas comet which appeared
in late 1680 and was visible both in Cádiz, where Kino was
awaiting a ship, and Mexico, where he was bound. It was a prominent
comet and caused a stir.
Now, the stir was not just because the comet was a beautiful object
but because, since at least Roman times, they were taken as a sign of
ill-omen. Misfortune was about to happen to someone prominent. That
was why Kino, when urged to write a book about this comet once he
got to Mexico City, started with the wish that the comet would be to the
viceroy there “the happy messenger of your good fortune.” The cover
of Kino’s little book, “Exposción Astronómica de el Cometa,” showed
the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose protection no doubt would
ensure these good wishes to his patrons.
Comet-watchers are well known around Southern Arizona, thanks to
those same clear desert skies which enabled Kino to record at least two
others during his travels. If they too see a Christmas comet, they can
count it a blessing. Just don’t forget those earmuffs against the cold.
Fall 2011 6

Reaching for the Heavens
on the edge
of the universe
gravitational lensing & discovery of a galaxy
Interview with Dr. Eiichi Egami of Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona
by Fr. Paul Gabor, S.J., of the Vatican Observatory
Fr. Gabor: Dr. Egami, congratulations on your fascinating discovery.
Using the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes, as well as the Keck
telescope in Hawaii, you and your colleagues observed light coming
from a time less than a billion years after the Big Bang. And you
found a galaxy that seemed already 750 million years old at the
time, which means that it formed perhaps as early as 250 million
years after the Big Bang. Could this mean that there is something
wrong with our understanding of the age of the Universe?
No, the age of the Universe is not based on the observations
of galaxies. It is determined in a number of different ways,
and it is quite well established. Our data do not challenge
that. I believe, however, that they indicate that the time
scale for galaxy formation in the early Universe needs to
be re-examined. It seems that galaxies may have formed as
early as 200 million years after the Big Bang.
Fr. Gabor: And speaking of ancient history, I know that you are an
alumnus of the Vatican Observatory Summer School 1990. How do
you remember that experience?
I have vivid memories of VOSS 1990. I still have the picture
of myself shaking hands with John Paul II. It was one of
the best summers I have ever had in my life. Many of the
participants are eminent astronomers today, and I am still
in contact with a number of them. This is something I
could not have appreciated at the time: VOSS allowed me
to have a personal connection with excellent people who
have become lifetime friends. Also professionally, I have
benefited from these connections. I am really grateful to Fr.
George Coyne for this wonderful experience.
Notes: This unique galaxy is incredibly far at 13.5 billion light years
or 1.6x10^23 miles away. The young galaxy was
observed only due to the good fortune of how nature
positioned closer massive galaxies with powerful
gravitational pull, thus, allowing for lensing—or
as Dr. Egami called it “a huge magnifying glass
floating in space.”
Sacred
Space
Giving Spotlight
Travis Rankin
Mr. Travis Rankin’s connections to the Vatican Observatory Foundation
are rooted in circumstance and affinity. Having studied at Santa Clara
University, Mr. Rankin was taught by Jesuit Father Louis Bannan, a
brother of early VATT supporters Thomas and Bernard Bannan. Years
later Mr. Rankin attended a class reunion in Berkeley, California. His
classmate, Fr. Tom Buckley of the Jesuit School of Theology, brought
to the reunion luncheon a young Italian Jesuit who was completing his
theological studies and was on his way back to Rome for ordination.
The newly-ordained priest would then continue his research at the
Vatican Observatory. This was Fr. Gabriele Gionti, S.J., featured in
the newsletter last fall.
Having chatted with Fr. Gionti and learning more about the VOF, Mr.
Rankin felt it important to support the work the Jesuits are doing at
the observatory. “It is very important for the Church to stay in tune
with the scientific community,” he said. “There have been ups and
downs over the years, such as the Galileo affair, but the Church must
stay in touch with science.” For Mr. Rankin, the dialogue regarding
faith and science is a critical work that the Vatican Observatory
provides.
Mr. Rankin has been a loyal supporter of the VOF since October
2008 and recently decided to become part of the growing number
of members of the Sacred Space Giving program. He now gives
automatically through his credit card a monthly gift benefitting the
VOF.
Thank you, Travis Rankin, for your generosity and
kindness! And thanks to all the generous benefactors
of the Foundation.
To join Sacred Space Giving or learn more about the program, complete
the enclosed envelope or visit our web site at www.vofoundation.org.
7 Fall 2011

vatican observatory
foundation
2017 East Lee Street
Tucson, Arizona 85719
specola vaticana
V-00120 Città del Vaticano
Roma, Italia
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
SAVE THE EARTH.
Explore the Universe.
The VOF is increasingly
communicating by email. Please
send us your email address—
and together we’ll save trees and
keep you informed about exciting
things happening in the cosmos.
VISIT US ONLINE:
www.vofoundation.org
inside
Farewell to Fr. Coyne, Welcome to Fr. DiUlio Tribute to Fr. Kino VOF Calendars Now Available
To See a World Bigger than Yourselves…
Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, Retired Vicar General of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, has been a dedicated
supporter of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. In June of this year Monsignor Fitzgerald presided over the
commencement ceremony at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, his 1954 alma mater in Salt Lake City. In
his congratulatory remarks, Msgr. Fitzgerald mentioned a visit he made last October to the Vatican Observatory
outside Rome, with its 100-year-old telescopes that "pierced the heavens and the beauty of God’s creation.”
Addressing the graduating students, Msgr. Fitzgerald recalled, "It was amazing to me to look and see how
vast is this universe, how limitless the possibilities of what God has entrusted to our care. And I think, you
graduates, if there’s anything you take from Judge, it should be that ability to see a world bigger than
yourselves, a world bigger than your own life experiences, a world that is massive in terms of its challenges
and possibilities, sufferings and changes. And I would ask that you remember … to whom a lot is given, from
them a great deal is expected."
Congratulations to the Class of 2011 and thanks to Msgr. Fitzgerald for his support of the
Vatican Observatory Foundation!
Upcoming
Events
Chicago, IL
Lecture
Adler Planetarium
November 16, 7:30 PM
George V. Coyne, S.J.
River Forest, IL
Albertus Magnus Lecture
Dominican University, Siena Center
November 17, 7:00 PM
George V. Coyne, S.J.
Los Angeles, CA
Annual Seminar and Circles
of Giving Awards Dinner
February 23, 6:00 PM
Seminar at Loyola High School
February 24, 6:00 PM
Awards Dinner at California Club