This discourse… might have happened.  Frustrated first-time stargazer: “Fr. James, where’s this comet you’re talking about?” Me: It’s right below the bowl of the Big Dipper. Take your hand and place it over the bowl of the Big Dipper. Turn your palm toward you and move your hand straight down to the horizon. Put the pinky side of your palm on the horizon and then look above your thumb for a fuzzy dot with a tail.” Frustrated first-time stargazer: “I don’t see it. Are you sure there’s a comet out there Father?” Me: Yes, it’s there. Look for a fuzzy dot with a fuzzy streaming tail going up.”  Frustrated first-time stargazer: “You mean that little thing? Right there? That’s the once in a lifetime comet you’re talking about?” Me: “Yes! Congratulations! You found it!” Frustrated first-time stargazer: “Cool… but it doesn’t look like your pictures. Are you sure you took those pictures? You Photoshopped a fake comet in didn’t you?” … Continue reading →

Two weeks ago, I reflected with you on the mysticism of two of my favorite authors: John Muir and Pope Francis. Since then, I’ve been trying to practice what I preach. Whether it be an evening walk along a lake or a late night chasing a comet, I’ve been attentively observing the glory of God through the Book of Nature.  So, what I have learned through this practice? Well, not much really. What is so edifying about the Book of Nature is that when I “read it” or “pray with it,” the process doesn’t teach me something “new,” but reminds of timeless truths that have slipped from my sacred memory. Things like the importance to taking time away from work, stress, concern, and the frustration I feel with Covid-19. It reminds me of the importance of contemplative silence, attentiveness to my surroundings, and simply being instead of constantly trying to become something or do something. And it reminds me of … Continue reading →

When was the last time you gave thanks to God for the blessings of your life? Amid a deeply stressful time in modern history, to take time to simply be thankful for the good things in our lives is essential. Part of my week of gratitude was to check in with some NASA missions I’ve had the privilege of visiting. At the first Faith and Astronomy Workshop in 2015, our group toured the OSIRIS-REx mission headquarters at the University of Arizona. This ambitious mission to return a pristine sample of asteroid Bennu is progressing as planned! In March of this year, OSIRIS-REx imaged one of the potential “bounce sites” where the probe will attempt a “touch, vacuum, and go” maneuver, gently landing on the surface of Bennu just long enough to capture a small amount of the asteroid’s surface before returning home to Earth. If successful, the sample returned will be analyzed and compared with existing samples of Bennu that … Continue reading →

Two weeks have passed since my travels home and I have crossed a very important finish line – I didn’t get sick! Sadly, that small accomplishment is muted in light of the many struggles and trials our world is facing. And, sadly, many of these struggles can do severe damage to our hope as a culture. When I wrote you last, I posed the question, “What world am I walking into?” As with most reflective questions, the answer transcended what I hoped would be a simple answer. The question I should have asked is, “What ‘worlds’ will I be walking into?” While driving home through New Mexico, I listened to their Governor’s press conference, updating citizens on the state of Covid-19. She shared guidelines for reopening the state and provisions people should follow. With a medical expert present to clarify the science of Covid-19, the plan presented was cautious and slow. When I arrived at my hotel in Santa Fe, … Continue reading →

Some of you may have wondered why I haven’t written on the topic of care for creation for some time. The decision was intentional, not because I have lost interest in the topic or have had a change of heart. Rather, I’ve been taking a step back from the topic to see how I could approach it anew. I know people appreciate my pieces on the subject of care for creation, but I could also tell they weren’t gaining much traction in terms of a real change of heart. Something happened, however, that has rekindled the flame. Last week, I was watching the evening news from a national outlet that will remain nameless. After an update on infection numbers and death, the show host said, “Coming up after the break, will Covid-19 be the new tactic for the radical, environmental left?” I was stunned at the mere insinuation that people who care about creation might be somehow rejoicing that we … Continue reading →

If you live in the Tucson area, did you notice something odd in the sky about 4:00am? This morning, as prep for my forthcoming post on International Dark Sky Week, I was walking the grounds of the Redemptorist Renewal Center, capturing Milky Way images. In fact, I’ve been doing photography every morning for two reasons. One, its getting hot for my Wisconsin blood and doing my daily walks before sunrise is more comfortable. Two, the skies have been absolutely gorgeous this week! The image above is the Milky Way over the outdoor Chapel at the Redemptorist Renewal Center. This Chapel has a special place in my heart. It is here that I celebrated the closing Mass for the Faith and Astronomy Workshop. It is a place that is peaceful and prayerful, but also a place that has become a deep part of my spiritual journey. This morning, I was back at the chapel playing with my fisheye lens. I wanted … Continue reading →